Can shingles recur?

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Many people subjectively believe that shingles only appear once in a person's life. However, experts say that shingles can come back a second time, even a third time, although it's very rare.

1. What is shingles?

Shingles is a skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). For patients who have had chickenpox, even after recovering from the disease, the varicella-zoster virus does not go away, but the virus stays in the nerve cells of the spinal cord for many years and is suppressed by the immune system. body's natural. At some point, the chickenpox virus will become active again when the patient is older or the body's immune system is weakened. The chickenpox virus moves along the route of the spinal nerve to the skin, causing hemorrhagic necrotizing inflammation, causing the patient to feel pain, burning with the appearance of erythema - cluster of vesicles and adjacent peripheral lymph nodes were enlarged.

2. Does Shingles Recurrence?

If you've had shingles once, don't be subjective, because that doesn't mean it won't come back. In fact, shingles can come back a second or third time, although it's very rare.
Experts don't know exactly how many people get shingles more than once. However, they say shingles can recur in people with weakened immune systems. During the first few years, the chance of shingles coming back is lower than in people who have never had shingles.
Over time, as you get older or your immune system gets weaker, there is a chance that shingles will come back a second time. One study showed that within 7 years, the rate of shingles recurrence is up to nearly 5%. That's like the odds of getting shingles for the first time.
Shingles has the potential to recur in another part of the patient's body. In general, the most common rash is on the trunk or face.

3. Symptoms of shingles rash

A blistering rash is a telltale sign of shingles. If the patient's immune system is weak, a rash may appear on certain parts of the body. Other symptoms to look out for are:
Pain, itching or tingling, which can start a few days before the rash Headache Fever Chills Stomach pain When early symptoms of shingles appear, see your doctor right away. doctor for treatment. Early treatment can help it heal faster and can help people avoid related problems, as shingles on the face can cause problems with hearing, vision and even blindness. So, for patients with weakened immune systems who cannot be vaccinated, early treatment is the best protection against shingles.

4. How to treat when shingles recur?

For the first cases of shingles, antivirals can help prevent recurrences such as: Acyclovir; Valacyclovir; Famciclovir.
To relieve itching at the sores, patients can try oatmeal baths, using Calamine lotion.
If you have pain after shingles, your doctor may prescribe gabapentin - an anti-seizure medicine or a topical cream or lotion. Antidepressants can also help with pain. Steroids are sometimes used to treat shingles.

Shingles treatments such as antivirals work best when the patient is started on them early.
People at risk of shingles recurrence are:
You have severe pain from shingles that lasts more than 30 days. This is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Women are more likely to have a recurrence than men You were 50 years old or older when you first got shingles. Weak immune system due to conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma or HIV, taking drugs that suppress the immune system.

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Reference source: Webmd.com