Shingles Overview
Although it occurs fairly commonly within the general population, shingles is a medical condition that is very often misunderstood. Shingles is actually a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus. Herpes zoster virus, which is commonly referred to as VZV for short, is the same virus that causes chickenpox in children.
Although eighty percent of adults who have chickenpox as a child will have no other signs of VZV, twenty percent of adults will encounter the the herpes zoster virus many years after their initial case of chickenpox. In this percentage of adults, the virus resurfaces later in life and travels along a sensory nerve into the skin. When this event occurs, shingles will appear on the body as a very painful rash.
When the rash appears, it normally surfaces as a broad band on one side of the body. The area where the rash occurs is known as a dermatome. The dermatome is a section of the skin that is supplied by a single sensory nerve. Because shingles occurs as a result of chickenpox, any individual that had chickenpox as a child is at risk for shingles later in life.
However, the majority of people who have shingles are able to get through it without any major issues. If you have cancer, HIV or an organ transplant, your chance for complications during shingles is somewhat higher than those without these issues. Regardless of your situation, if you experience a rash that resembles shingles, it is very important that you seek the guidance of a trained medical professional as soon as possible. |
