Herpes Zoster: Difference between revisions
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== Definition/Description == | == Definition/Description == | ||
Herpes Zoster, commonly called Shingles, is characterized by a painful rash with blisters | Herpes Zoster, commonly called Shingles, is characterized by a painful rash with blisters.<ref name="PubMed Health">PubMed Health. Shingles: herpes zoster. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001861/ (accessed 4 March 2014).</ref> | ||
== Prevalence == | == Prevalence == | ||
Revision as of 16:46, 13 March 2014
Original Editors - Heather Lindsey and Kaycee Stone from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.
Top Contributors - Kaycee Stone, Heather Dixon, Lucinda hampton, Donald John Auson, Kim Jackson, Elaine Lonnemann, Wendy Walker, Evan Thomas, WikiSysop, Chelsea Mclene and Nupur Smit Shah
Definition/Description[edit | edit source]
Herpes Zoster, commonly called Shingles, is characterized by a painful rash with blisters.[1]
Prevalence[edit | edit source]
Shingles will affect 1 in 3 people in the United States, with approximately 1 million cases each year.[2] Half of the people affected are over the age of 60.[2]
Characteristics/Clinical Presentation
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At first, there is only pain, tingling, or burning before a rash appears. This is generally on one side of the body. The rash appears as red areas, then blisters that break and form crusts. This rash usually lasts two to three weeks and often affects an area from the spine to the chest or abdomen, as well as the ears, face, or eyes.[1] The rash can be widespread, like chickenpox, in cases involving an immunocompromised patient.[2] Other assosciated symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, malaise, headache, joint pain, and swollen glands.[1] If the eye is affected, the virus can cause blindness.[2]
Associated Co-morbidities[edit | edit source]
Immunocompromised people, like people undergoing treatment for cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, HIV, and patients on immunosuppressive drugs are at an increased risk of developing shingles.[2] Older adults are also at an increased risk for developing it.[2]
Medications[edit | edit source]
Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are antiviral medications that are commonly prescribed to treat shingles to shorten the duration and ease the severity of the outbreak. Pain medication may also be prescribed to help with the pain related to shingles.[2]
Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values[edit | edit source]
The diagnosis is generally made based upon an examination of the skin and taking medical history. A skin sample may be taken to determine if the skin is infected by the varicella-zoster virus. Health care providers may run blood tests, which will not diagnose Herpes Zoster, but will show elevated white blood cells and antibodies to the virus that causes chicken pox.[1]
Etiology/Causes[edit | edit source]
Herpes Zoster is caused by the dormant varicella zoster, also known as chickenpox, becoming active again, often years following the initial incidence of the infection.[1]
Systemic Involvement[edit | edit source]
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Medical Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
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Case Reports/ Case Studies[edit | edit source]
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Resources
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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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