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Shingles Without Rash: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
The varicella-zoster virus causes both chickenpox and shingles. After a patient goes through chickenpox, this virus will lie dormant in the nerve tissue around the spinal cord and brain. As the patient ages the chances of this virus resurfacing as shingles increases. Shingles will result in a very aching rash to arise on the skin. The rash can emerge anywhere on the body, however, most often appears on one side of the torso. In some cases, a person can experience what is known as a zoster sine herpete (ZSH), in which case, rash never appears. vs. Shingles with rash vs. shingles with no rash Causes of Shingles Without Rash Shingles is a disease caused by the presence of the varicella-zoster virus in the tissue of the nervous system. This virus enters the body when a patient catches chickenpox. It remains inactive in the tissue for years before resurfacing as the shingles disease. Doctors are unsure what causes the disease to become active again, though it appears that adults with weak immune systems are more prone to these outbreaks than others. As the varicella-zoster virus becomes active again it will travel through the nerve pathways to the skin, which causes a sore skin reaction. Risk Factors of Shingles Anyone that has suffered from chickenpox can develop a shingles outbreak later in life. The likelihood of individuals in the United States developing either disease is diminishing due to the widespread use of vaccinations against the virus. However, there are still risk factors that increase the risk that you may suffer a shingles outbreak. Weakened Immune System Diseases that weaken your immune system such as cancer, HIV/AIDS can increase the risk that patients will suffer a shingles outbreak. Because cancer treatments will significantly weaken the immune system, those that have gone through chemotherapy or radiation are also at a higher risk for developing singles. Any other medications that suppress the immune system such as those given to patients going through an organ transplant will have similar effects. Age The risk of developing shingles also becomes greater as people age. People over the age of 50 are significantly more likely to develop shingles than any other age group. It is estimated that about half the people who live to age 85 will experience shingles at least once. Symptoms of Zoster Sine Herpete Zoster sine herpete is not common and can be hard to diagnose as the most common and differentiating shingles rash is not present. Other sympt...
Is Shingles Contagious? - New Health Advisor
Shingles is an extremely painful rash that has its origins in the Varicella zoster virus, also known as VZV. This is the identical virus that results in chickenpox. Once you recover from chickenpox, the virus remains in the nerves near your spine where it lies dormant. Most people have no problem after that. In some people, however, this virus will reactivate and travel along the nerves to come out along the dermatomes of the skin. Anyone who has had the chickenpox virus is susceptible to getting shingles. So is shingles contagious like chickenpox? Let's find out. Is Shingles Contagious? In most cases, shingles is not contagious and can't be passed from person to person. However, the shingles virus can shed from the rash and can infect a person who has never come down with chicken pox or has never had the chickenpox vaccine. This person is not immune to the chickenpox virus and will develop a case of chickenpox. They won't, however, actually get shingles. Those people at the highest risk of developing chicken pox from exposure to someone who has shingles include babies, young children, any person who hasn't been vaccinated against chickenpox. It is even possible for an unprotected pregnant woman to pass along the chickenpox virus to her fetus. When Is Shingles Contagious (The Virus of Course) ? In the beginning, shingles starts as burning, numbness, or tingling of the skin, usually along a dermatome on one side of the body. The rash comes on next. While the rash begins to occur and until the blisters form and crust over, the person is susceptible to shedding the virus and passing the chickenpox virus on to a susceptible person. In the prodromal stage, before the rash starts, the person is less likely to pass on the virus, although it is still possible. The virus lives in the blister fluid, so unless they have crusted over, the person is considered contagious. The period from the onset of rash to crusting over is usually between 5-7 days. This is the time of the greatest chance of contagion. How Is the Shingles Virus Transmitted? The shingles virus is not waterborne, airborne or sexually transmitted. This means that the varicella zoster virus can only be transmitted when a susceptible person (one who hasn't had the infection in the past nor has had the vaccination) actually comes in contact with the infected blister fluid. When the blister breaks open, the virus is shed. It also means that shingles on the face, arms and legs, where a person can't hide them...
Shingles can hit younger than you think. The vaccine can prevent the ...
But doctors say it's not a vaccine to skip. Shingles pain can be debilitating for days or weeks, and an infection can have long-lasting effects. Here are four things to know about the disease, the vaccine and the treatment. 1. Shingles can hit younger than you think Doctors recommend that people receive the vaccine at age 50, and that's generally when insurance covers it, since our immune ...
Can Shingles vaccine cause injury and death? - nvic.org
IMPORTANT NOTE: NVIC encourages you to become fully informed about Shingles and the Shingles vaccine by reading all sections in the Table of Contents , which contain many links and resources such as the manufacturer product information inserts, and to speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision ...
