This is an automatically translated article.
Shingles is a vesicular, erythematous rash accompanied by pain in the corresponding skin area. Shingles usually heals after about 4 weeks, but some people still feel pain in the healed skin, pain symptoms last for more than 3 months. At that time, the patient was diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia. Post-herpetic neuralgia, though not directly life-threatening, makes patients uncomfortable, directly affecting work and life.
1. What is nerve shingles?
Shingles is caused by the Herpes virus. Patients will feel nerve pain, paresthesia before the disease radiates out about 2-3 weeks. Before the blisters appear, the patient may feel pain, burning, discomfort in that skin area. Manifestations of shingles in the early stages are often not clear, patients are easily confused with other skin diseases.
The first onset of damage is the reddened skin and then gradually the appearance of blisters. These blisters stay on the skin for about 3 - 5 days, then dry, scab and peel off. These blisters grow in clusters, one after another. Patients will feel very itchy and uncomfortable, accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, fever, headache.
Bệnh zona thần kinh khiến người bệnh mệt mỏi kèm theo sốt và nhức đầu
2. Symptoms of post-herpetic neuralgia
Shingles is a benign disease, it will heal after about 2-3 weeks. However, patients may face symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia lasts about 2-6 months, a few can last for years. Specific symptoms of post-herpetic neuralgia such as:
Pain in the skin with blisters has healed; Pain on one side of the body; Discomfort, pain when touching, touching, wind blowing on the damaged skin; The pain appeared with increasing level, pain like ant sting, pain like a knife; The pain causes the patient to lose sleep, not sleep well, wake up in the middle, more pain at night. Post-herpetic neuralgia is quite persistent, even becoming chronic pain. Many patients with post-herpetic neuralgia suffer from general weakness and depression.
3. Why do you have pain after shingles?
The herpes virus that causes shingles has a very special protein structure that allows the virus to attach to sensory nerve endings under the skin, penetrate and travel along the nervous system.It can be compared simply as the nervous system is a house where the Herpes virus that causes shingles comes to reside. When the immune system is weakened, the person is tired... the virus hidden inside the nerve will reactivate and cause damage under the skin and nerves in the corresponding position.
Zona thần kinh khiến người bệnh đau đớn kéo dài
4. Treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia
Treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia is to treat symptoms, alleviate symptoms and prevent dangerous complications for health.
Antiviral drugs: Acyclovir is an effective anti-viral drug that reduces the disease, relieves pain after shingles. Immunocompromised patients will be prescribed intravenous antiretroviral drugs
Corticosteroids: to help relieve pain, combined with antiviral drugs; Antidepressants; Peripheral pain drugs: analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs; When there are symptoms of pain after shingles, the patient should go to the hospital to check and be prescribed by a doctor, advise on effective drug use, Absolutely do not arbitrarily use the drug, arbitrarily stop the drug when seeing progress. ; Injections of drugs to numb the nerves, control the pain. Shingles is a benign disease, but if not treated in time, it can cause many dangerous complications. Therefore, you should get treatment as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear at reputable medical facilities.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam, with a team of well-trained, specialized and experienced doctors. Full and modern medical equipment imported from the US, UK, Germany, Japan... Facilities are designed according to international standards, the rooms are like a 5-star hotel, bringing to you giving the patient the most comfortable space and environment, helping the treatment to be highly effective.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.
