Shingles
A bout of chickenpox used to be a rite of passage in childhood. Because the vaccine against varicella-zoster protection
Virus (VZV) were available, most children can now avoid this itchy infection.
But anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles later - even children. The good news is that shingles is pretty
rare in children and young people with healthy immune systems.
Shingles Basics
Shingles, or herpes zoster and herpes zoster, is a skin rash caused by a viral infection of the nerve below the
Skin. Shingles usually in a narrow strip of irritated skin and blisters on one side of the chest or back, but it can
occur anywhere on the body, including the face and around the eyes.
Many cases of shingles have mild symptoms, but more severe cases can be very painful. Fortunately, most children and young people
always mild cases, which usually happen only severe cases in older people.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, so it is very contagious, meaning it can be easy for a
Child to the virus to others who happen not immune to chicken pox. This includes those who are not already had chickenpox
or get the chickenpox vaccine. However, if someone else is infected, it will not get shingles. You get chickenpox
instead.
An episode of shingles is usually run their course and disappear in less than a month. Although some shingles flare-up
Usually resolves on its own, treatments can reduce a child's risk of complications and help him or her heal faster.
Causes
Shingles and chickenpox are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus in the herpes viruses, the related
cause cold sores and genital herpes, shingles and therefore is sometimes called herpes zoster is.
After a person has had chickenpox, the virus stays in that person nervous system for the rest of his life, even
when the chicken pox goes away. The virus can remain dormant there, or sleep for years. For many people, it will never
be heard from again. But in about 1 million Americans a year, it flares up and causes shingles. It is possible to obtain
Shingles more than once, although rather rare.
Doctors are not sure why the virus suddenly flares up again after months or years of inactivity. It could be because our
Immune system more susceptible to infection, as we age, which could explain why shingles is more common in older
Adults.
Children who have had chickenpox before by a greater risk of developing shingles if their immune systems have been weakened
Diseases such as AIDS or cancer or certain medications.
Symptoms
In many cases, the first symptom of shingles will be tingling, itching and sometimes pain in the area where the rash is
will appear. This can be frustrating: Your child may itch, but you'll have no idea what is causing it.
If the rash appears eventually, it starts as a group of dots on one side of the body or face. Change the pimples
Pus-filled blisters that break open and scab over in about 7 to 10 days. Once the blisters are crusted over, they start
to heal. Heal the scabs fall off and usually about 2 to 4 weeks after the rash appears.
Some children with shingles may also experience a fever, headache, fatigue and general achiness. In rare cases, a child
experience the pain of shingles without a rash.
Some people have more severe symptoms, but usually happen in people over 50 years.
Complications
Most cases of shingles will heal on their own, with or without treatment, and will not lead to other problems. In rare
Cases, shingles can lead to complications, including:
Ongoing pain (post-herpetic neuralgia): Damaged nerve fibers in the skin send confused messages to the brain, leading to
Pain that can go for a long time after a shingles rash has disappeared.
Vision problems: If shingles occurs near or in a child's eye, it can lead to vision loss.
Infections of the skin: A shingles rash infected with bacteria, leading to impetigo or cellulitis.
Nervous system disorders: Shingles on the face it can connect to different nerves leading to the brain. This in turn
lead to nerve problems such as facial paralysis, hearing problems, and problems with balance. In very rare cases,
Shingles can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Diagnosis
If you think your child might have shingles, call a doctor. If there is a chance your child might have shingles on the
Face, it is really important for the infection to keep a doctor's help immediately from spreading to the eyes.
If your child has a weakened immune system, call a doctor immediately to avoid complications.
Usually, a doctor can diagnose shingles only by examining a child's rash and blisters. In rare cases, the doctor
Remove a small sample of the infected tissue to be investigated in a laboratory.
Treatment
Not all children who need treatment get shingles. But if the doctor decides a treatment can help, it should be started
soon as possible.
Antiviral drugs can not eliminate the virus from the body, but they can reduce the chances of complications and to an acceleration
the healing process. The earlier treatment program is started, the more effective it will be, and the less risk there
is of complications. Talk to your doctor about whether medication could be helpful for your child.
To treat the pain associated with shingles, doctors may prescribe a cream, spray or patches, to numb the skin and make
it hurt less. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can also help to treat the pain. Do not give your child or
Teen aspirin, though, as it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
If a case is accompanied by itching of shingles, your doctor may recommend medicated lotions or drugs as
Antihistamines.
To alleviate the symptoms at home, keep the affected area clean. Wash it with a mild soap and water and apply cool, wet
compressed to several times a day to reduce the pain and itching blisters. Oatmeal baths can also bring relief.
To prevent the spread of the virus to others, keep your child's rash at all times.
Prevention
It is not possible to completely prevent shingles. The chickenpox vaccine shingles can be a less serious. So, if
Your child has not had chickenpox, it is not too late to ask your doctor about getting the chickenpox vaccine.
There is a vaccine against shingles, but doctors usually just give it to older adults. This is partly because the older
someone has to be the more severe shingles. Children are hardly be seriously affected by shingles.
Children who get a shingles rash, which can not be fully covered should be kept out of school and child care until the
Blisters are dry and scabbed over.
Newborns should pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and who is not immune to chickenpox
Avoid close contact with someone who has shingles until the rash is completely healed.