Herpes Zoster Treatment

What is Herpes Zoster?

Herpes zoster is a virus caused by the virus that causes chickenpox. When your chickenpox goes away, the virus lies dormant in your system. If it reactivates, it comes in the form of shingles which can be similar to chickenpox and can return many times. Shingles is very painful and treatment is important.

What is Herpes Zoster Treatment?

Herpes zoster is treated with antiviral medications since it is a virus that causes the shingles. Anti-inflammatory medications are also sometimes used to help treat herpes zoster and painkillers are used to treat discomfort from the symptoms.

A vaccine exists to prevent contracting chickenpox to begin with. Small children and anyone who has never had chickenpox should get the vaccine.

How Do You Know You Have Shingles?

The most common and obvious sign of shingles is the red rash that may appear and the painful blisters on the skin. The person may also experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and headache and body aches. There may be itching, burning or throbbing in the location of the blisters and most often it is very painful.

There can also be problems in other body parts due to the herpes zoster, such as eye problems. When the virus affects the eyes, it can result in conjunctivitis or infection of the cornea and iris or worse. Signs that you have an eye problem related to herpes zoster and shingles are double vision, blurred vision, pain and swelling in the eye, redness and swelling in the eye and eyelids and blisters on the eyelids, eye area or nose.

Can Painkillers Help Shingles?

Because shingles and the symptoms of shingles can be very painful, painkillers are often used with the treatment. Some people may take an over-the-counter painkiller and find this sufficient but many people require something stronger. In these cases, a stronger painkiller will be prescribed by the doctor.