As some of you will know on the 27 July I was diagnosed with shingles on my scalp and in my left eye. So I am doing a post about shingles. I am improving but still have a lot of bloody pain
and find my eye waters like a dripping tap when trying to watch TV or use the computer. So I am doing things for a short period of time giving my eye a break. I have to see my optometrist asap to check the eye according to my GP.
Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. The first sign is often burning or tingling pain; sometimes it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body. Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
A reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful rash.
Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. It isn't known what reactivates the virus.
Shingles causes a painful rash that may appear as a stripe of blisters on the torso. Pain can persist even after the rash is gone (this is called post-herpetic neuralgia).
Treatments include pain relief and antiviral medication such as aciclovir or valaciclovir. A chickenpox vaccine in childhood or a shingles vaccine as an adult can minimise the risk of developing shingles.
Generally shingles is not contagious, but a person with active shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister phase. It's important to keep the rash covered. Most cases of shingles last 3-5 weeks. Most people get shingles only one time, but, it is possible to have it more than once.
