Herpes zoster incubation period. Herpes zoster: symptoms and treatment in adults

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by reactivation of the herpes virus, manifested by general infectious symptoms, disorders of the nervous system and accompanied by specific skin manifestations.

Causes of shingles

It is caused, presumably, by the same virus that causes chickenpox - the herpes virus of the third type (Varicellazoster). There are no significant differences in the frequency of cases between men and women, but it is believed that before the age of 50, the proportion of incidence among men is higher, in the group of patients after 50 years there are more women. The frequency of cases of this disease per 1000 population up to 20 years of age is from 0.4 to 1.6, after 20 years - from 4.5 to 11. The disease is more severe in old age, and in children and young people it is relatively favorable.

Is shingles contagious or not?

The virus in the external environment is not stable: it quickly dies under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, heating and exposure to disinfectants. Infection in most cases occurs in childhood and is manifested by chickenpox.

Immediately through the mucous membranes and skin or after chickenpox suffered in childhood with blood and lymph, the virus is introduced into the nerve plexuses, intervertebral nerve nodes, posterior spinal roots, nerve nodes of the cranial nerves, where they continue to exist in a latent (hidden) form for many years .

Subsequently, as a result of a decrease in immune reactivity in a person under the influence of certain factors, the virus is activated, which causes inflammation mainly of the nerve intervertebral nodes and posterior spinal roots, which manifests itself in the form of symptoms of herpes zoster. Such factors leading to a decrease in immune protection may be:

general acute infectious diseases, hypothermia, hyperinsolation;
pregnancy;
diabetes mellitus or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
sleep disturbances and prolonged neuropsychic stress;
foci of chronic infections and intoxication of the body;
long-term use of immunosuppressants, cytostatic and hormonal drugs of the glucocorticoid series;
HIV infection and cancer;
X-ray procedures, chemotherapy.

Is it possible to get infected from a patient?

Unlike chickenpox, shingles occurs in sporadic (isolated) episodes. Epidemic outbreaks, seasonal dependence was not observed, although some authors note an increase in the number of diseases in the summer (June-July), as well as in spring and late autumn, but to a lesser extent. Infection of adults from a sick person occurs in very rare cases. From patients with shingles, children and adults who have not had chicken pox can become infected. The disease in them in this case manifests itself in the form of the latter.

How is it transmitted?

Infection can occur by airborne droplets, as a result of the use of common bedding, hygiene items, utensils, as well as as a result of direct contact with a sick person.

Shingles symptoms in adults

The duration of the period from the moment of primary infection and chickenpox in childhood to the activation of the virus and the appearance of the first symptoms of herpes zoster, that is, the incubation period, can be more than a dozen years.

The clinical course of the disease is divided into 3 periods:

prodromal period.
The period of clinical manifestations.
The period of resolution and clinical recovery.

prodromal period

It lasts from 2 to 5 days. Targeted effective treatment during this period is impossible, since the disease is manifested only by general symptoms - headache, general malaise and weakness, often nausea and vomiting, fever up to 38-39 ° C, muscle pain (myalgia), enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes.

In a certain area of the skin innervated by the affected nerve root, in the place of future skin rashes, there are often sensations of severe skin itching and pain, which is stabbing, burning, shooting, throbbing, aching or paroxysmal in nature. Pain may resemble pleuropneumonia, attacks of angina pectoris, cholecystitis, appendicitis, intercostal neuralgia, intestinal colic, etc., depending on the affected area.

In most cases, these pains are difficult to differentiate from the pain that occurs with these diseases. Sometimes the pain increases sharply even with a slight touch, from the cold, at night, there may be a loss of skin sensitivity in the affected area. These phenomena are associated with the reproduction of viruses and their further introduction into nerve cells and tissues.

The period of clinical manifestations

During this period, clear signs of shingles appear. It proceeds in two phases: erythematous - redness and swelling of the skin along the nerve trunk, and papulo-vesicular. Often the erythematous phase is absent, and grouped papules (nodules rising above the surface of the skin) immediately appear, within 1-2 days turning into vesicles (vesicles) of various sizes, prone to merging and filled with serous contents, which gradually becomes cloudy.

On the periphery of the bubbles sometimes there is a red rim. For 3-5 days, the number of vesicles continues to grow, and therefore in one area you can see elements at different stages of development (rash polymorphism). Often these rashes are accompanied by the same pain as in the prodromal period.

The rash is one-sided limited, but occupies a significant area. It is localized within the dermatome (the area of the skin innervated by the corresponding nerve) and rarely goes to the adjacent area. Most often, the elements occur on the chest along the intercostal nerves (“girdle”) and on the face along the branches of the trigeminal nerve, less often on the hips, in the lumbosacral zone, on the neck, the oculomotor and auditory nerves can also be affected. A rare form is the visceral form, or internal herpes zoster, in which the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and lung tissue, liver, heart, and kidneys can be affected.

Permission period

It is characterized by the cessation of the rash of new elements 3-5 days after the onset of their appearance, the drying of vesicles and the formation of crusts for an average of 10 days. The crusts fall off on their own or as a result of injury, ulcers form, which gradually epithelialize with a pink spot remaining in this place for some time.

The duration of this period is 2 weeks - 1 month. The continuation of the appearance of new elements for more than 7 days indicates the presence of a pronounced immunodeficiency in the patient. In the area of the pink spot, peeling, excessive or, conversely, reduced pigmentation can persist for a long time. When a staphylococcal infection is attached to the serous contents of the vesicles, suppuration of the latter occurs, which may be accompanied by a new increase in temperature and an increase in the duration of healing with the formation of scars.

There are atypical forms of manifestation of the disease, for example:

abortive - single rashes or their absence;
drain;
hemorrhagic form with severe pain syndrome;
generalized, in which rashes appear on all skin integuments;
disseminated form, the probability of which increases with age - vesicles pour out at a distance from the affected area;
gangrenous, which is very difficult and usually occurs in the elderly and debilitated people; it manifests itself as a rash of vesicles with bloody contents and deep, long-term healing ulcers, followed by the formation of scars.

Possible complications and consequences

Complications of shingles are rare. These include:

encephalitis, which develops a few days after the onset of the rash;
myelitis (lesion of the gray and white matter of the spinal cord), which can develop approximately half a month after the rash and is expressed in a limited loss of sensation, and sometimes in half or complete (in severe cases) transverse spinal cord lesion;
paralysis of the oculomotor muscles - occurs after 1.5 months, and sometimes after six months from the onset of the disease;
unilateral, but more often bilateral, rapidly progressive retinal necrosis that occurs after weeks, and sometimes months;
paresis of the muscles of the extremities with the localization of the lesion in this zone.

The most common consequences of the disease are postherpetic itching and pain syndrome (neuralgia), which sometimes occur together. Postherpetic neuralgia occurs in 10-20% of cases. It causes considerable suffering to patients and can last more than 4 months, even years. This pain is of three types:

in 90% - occurs with a superficial light touch;
dull pressing or in the form of burning, constant and deep;
periodic spontaneous stabbing character or in the form of "electric shock".

A significant danger is shingles during pregnancy, since the pathogen is able to cross the placenta and affect the nervous system of the fetus. This leads to congenital deformities or death. The disease that occurs in the first trimester, as a rule, leads to placental insufficiency and spontaneous abortion. In the third trimester, such complications occur less frequently, but they are not completely excluded.

How to treat shingles

The goal of disease therapy is to reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease and prevent the occurrence of its complications. How to treat the disease?

The only effective pharmacological agent directed against the cause of the disease are antiviral drugs, which include:

Acyclovir - taken for 7-10 days, 0.8 g. 5 times a day.
Valacyclovir, which is a second-generation acyclovir, is taken for 1 week, 1 g. 3 times a day.
Famvir (Famciclovir) - for 1 week, 0.5 g. 3 times a day.

If there is no effect from taking antiviral drugs, antiviral therapy is continued until the appearance of new rashes stops.

In order to have a faster effect and prevent new rashes, you can use an ointment based on antiviral agents: Acyclovir, Acyclovir Akri, Zovirax, Vivorax, Infagel (immunomodulator).

Deoxyribonuclease is also used, which inhibits the synthesis of viral DNA. The drug is administered as injections into the muscle 1 or 2 times a day, 50 mg for 1 week. With staphylococcal or streptococcal infection and suppuration of the elements of the rash, antiseptics or antibiotics are prescribed topically in the form of an emulsion, suspension, ointment, cream and antibiotics inside (if necessary).

How to relieve pain?

For this purpose, Acetylsalicylic acid, Pentalgin, Paracetamol, Nimesil, Nurofen, Tramadol are used internally. These drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects. With their ineffectiveness and severe pain syndrome, antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline) and anticonvulsants (Pregabalin, Gabapentin) are added, and in some cases (with particularly persistent pain syndrome) - glucocorticosteroid drugs for 3 weeks with a gradual decrease in their dosages.

Can you wash?

When the acute period subsides, you can take a shower for 15 minutes. The water temperature should not exceed 37°C. Baths of the same duration and at the same water temperature can be taken up to 2 times a week, but with infusion of chamomile, celandine, calendula. Water procedures must be taken carefully, without damaging the vesicles and crusts.

Treatment of herpes zoster in the elderly is carried out taking into account the presence of reduced immune defenses and concomitant diseases, especially in severe cases of herpes zoster. If necessary, Acyclovir is prescribed intravenously, immunocorrective therapy with Isoprinosine, which is an immunostimulant and antiviral agent, recombinant interferons (Viferon, Reaferon, Intron, etc.). At the same time, intravenous detoxification therapy (in severe cases), correction of concomitant pathology is carried out.

It is not recommended to treat shingles at home, especially without the consent of a doctor. As a rule, folk remedies for this disease are ineffective. Their use can lead to a delay in the process and serious complications.

Also, all patients are recommended to take vitamin preparations (in the absence of allergies to them) and good nutrition. A special diet for shingles is not required. It is necessary to use easily digestible foods rich in animal and vegetable proteins, vitamins, microelements and with a limited content of carbohydrates and animal fats - fish, white poultry meat, nuts, legumes, garden greens, dairy products, vegetables, fruits. You can use vitamin infusions and decoctions (cranberry juice, rosehip decoction, etc.), infusions of medicinal herbs that have a sedative effect and regulate bowel function (infusions of motherwort, chamomile, fennel, dill seed, hawthorn fruit decoction).

As a result of adequate complex treatment, complications can be avoided. However, in some patients, pain of a neuralgic nature may persist for several years.

Oddly enough, but there is a hypothesis that a person who has had chickenpox cannot re-feel the manifestation of its symptoms. However, experts deny this fact. It has been scientifically proven that after infection, the virus is present in the human body and manifests itself in the form of a new form - shingles. Consequently, not only the skin is affected, but also partly the nervous system. Such symptoms can occur even if a person has been ill with an illness in childhood. Therefore, it is very important to have an accurate idea of the form of herpes zoster (lichen).

After the herpes virus enters the body, it manifests itself as small red rashes in the face (the nerve fibers are damaged). In this case, the help of not only an infectious disease specialist, but also a neuropathologist is required. It should be noted that the virus is unstable to various external factors and dies due to:

high temperature;
under the influence of ultraviolet rays;
when exposed to a disinfectant.

Shingles is defined as a secondary manifestation of infection, that is, a virus that has been stored in the body for several years (was in a latent phase) has undergone reactivation under the influence of a number of factors:

Decreased level of immunity (cellular).
Age indicator.
The impact of chemotherapy.
Diseases associated with the blood and the hematopoietic system.
Prolonged stress and depression.
Overexertion and overwork.
Bone marrow or other internal organ transplant.
Consequences of hormone therapy treatment.
Immunodeficiency.
Weakening of the body due to diabetes.

Attention! It is enough to maintain the level of immunity to prevent the manifestation of various ailments, infection with new diseases, including shingles.

Primary symptomatology

First of all, it is necessary to pay attention that the main risk group is adults and the elderly. This pathology is practically not observed in children. Primary symptoms may manifest as severe itching, accompanied by an unpleasant burning sensation. Often the patient has a fever and chills.

Note! With herpes zoster, headaches can be observed.

Symptoms can form a symptom complex, or they can occur singly. The level of intensity of symptoms can vary and last for up to three days. At the same time, the symptoms in older people appear much brighter than in younger people. It is important that at this stage, shingles does not pose a danger to others.

Main features

Five days after the primary symptom complex, fuzzy pink spots appear on the body. Pain occurs at the site of the rash, which is soon accompanied by irritable itching and burning.

Carefully! With herpes zoster, sleep can be disturbed up to insomnia, since itching at night increases significantly.

A few days later, small blisters appear at the site of the rash, which are filled with purulent contents. It is at this stage that shingles is very easy to become infected.

Active phase of the disease

When the bubbles begin to burst, the cloudy purulent contents come out. It is at this stage that the highest risk of infection is noted. During this period, it is recommended to limit contact with healthy people. After a few days, the damaged skin in place of the bursting blisters dries up and is taken with a crust. After a week, the crust peels off on its own in the process of regeneration.

Is shingles contagious?

The specificity of infection lies in the contact-household and airborne transmission of the virus. When an infection enters the mucous membrane, it enters the body, and then spreads through the blood into the nerve fibers. Thus, the herpes virus manifests itself in the form of shingles.

If we consider infection using the example of people who already have a virus in their bodies, then upon contact with a sick person, the likelihood of re-infection is reduced to zero. This is explained by the fact that the already existing virus is suppressed by the immune system. People with a weakened immune system and the elderly are at risk.

It is important! Shingles is dangerous only during the appearance of rashes and, in fact, bursting blisters. It is at this time that there is a risk of infecting a healthy person.

The incubation period of the disease

The herpes virus, which is the main provocateur of shingles, can persist for several years. Then, when the immune system fails, activation can occur. Therefore, an unambiguous answer for the duration of the incubation period has not been determined. Indeed, after the virus enters the body, it can take from several weeks to several years before the appearance of primary symptoms, depending on individual characteristics and a number of factors.

Carefully! If the virus enters the body of a healthy person for the first time, then its manifestation will be in the form of chicken pox.

At-risk groups

Shingles belongs to the category of viral diseases, therefore, representatives with reduced functions of the immune system fall into the main risk group. Further, the danger of shingles awaits people after 45 years. It is during this period that global age-related changes occur in the body, which negatively affects immunity.

If at a fairly mature age the herpes virus enters the body of a healthy person for the first time, then it is extremely difficult to go through the course of the disease. Among the primary symptoms there is a high temperature, pain. Therefore, if one of the family members has become infected with chickenpox or shingles, it is recommended to limit contact with loved ones, since the likelihood of infection is high.

According to medical data, it is HIV-infected people who are the leaders in the risk groups for becoming infected with the herpes virus. Against the background of immunodeficiency, the virus activates much faster and proceeds in a complicated form, therefore it can be life-threatening for the patient. Therefore, HIV-infected people should be informed of the high risk of contracting shingles.

Herpesvirus is also threatening for patients who have undergone several courses of chemotherapy. Under the influence of these drugs, the immune function is significantly weakened.

You can learn more about shingles in the video.

Video - Shingles

Consequences and further forecasts

Like any ailment, shingles requires urgent treatment when primary symptoms appear. Since when the lichen spreads to large areas of the body, serious consequences can occur.

immunodeficiencies, both primary and secondary, caused by HIV infection

Clinical manifestations of the infection are unilateral ribbon-like lesions of the skin that run along the nerves. A dormant or, better, an infection in the incubation period, under the influence of trigger factors, begins its movement in the body of an adult along the nerves, to the nerve endings in the thickness of the skin, as a result of which we have characteristic skin elements during the development of the disease.

Of the complications of the disease, muscle paralysis can be noted as an extreme manifestation of infection. Naturally, in HIV-infected people, the disease proceeds with much greater complications and a long recovery period.

The use of other drugs such as immunomodulators, interferons, and others may be considered concomitant, many of which have no evidence base for the treatment of herpes zoster.

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Routes of infection and incubation period of herpes zoster

Shingles is a disease of viral etiology, the incubation period of which can last more than one decade. The causative agent of the disease is the herpes virus type 3 (herpes zoster).

Herpetic infection has been known since ancient times, even in the writings of Avicenna, Galen and Hippocrates, descriptions of cases of diseases caused by this pathogen are given.

In the 20s of the last century, the herpes virus was first isolated and its pathogenic nature was proved. Animals also get infections caused by the herpes virus.

Why is herpes called shingles

To answer this question, consider the life cycle of a virus. The herpes virus enters an intact (never met with a pathogen) organism from a sick person. Then it affects the skin, so chickenpox appears, and repeated contact with the virus provokes the development of herpes zoster. After curing chickenpox, the herpes infection remains in the body forever and settles in the nervous tissue - the cells of the posterior horns of the spinal cord (the most "favorite" place), cranial nerves.

In an unfavorable period for the body (disruption of the immune system), the dormant infection is activated. The nerve ganglion in which the infection persists becomes inflamed. Then the virus spreads along the nerve fibers, also causing inflammation, and reaches the skin. Hyperemia and multiple small vesicles with a light liquid appear on the skin.

The intercostal nerves originate from the spinal cord, run along the ribs and girdle the torso - that is why the disease is called "girdle".

Another version of the name of the disease, herpes zoster, is that the lesions on the skin resemble in appearance a trace from a blow with a belt (from the Latin "cingulum" - a belt).

Ways of transmission and causes of the development of the disease

As noted above, when entering the human body for the first time, type 3 herpes virus causes chickenpox. Repeated contact with the patient or weakening of the immune system (immunodeficiency) provokes herpes zoster.

The infection enters the body by airborne droplets, by contact (with kisses, from personal hygiene items, clothes), from the mother to the fetus during childbirth through the amniotic fluid. A prerequisite is the presence of a virus on the surface of objects - liquid from burst bubbles. The herpes virus is quite stable in the external environment and can persist for a long time, especially at low temperatures, but is quickly destroyed by ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures.

Causes of immunodeficiency states:

taking medications (cytostatics, glucocorticoids, long-term antibiotic therapy);
chronic fatigue;
lack of sleep;
poor nutrition;
hypothermia or overheating;
malignant diseases and blood diseases (acute and chronic leukemia, anemia of various etiologies);
HIV in the AIDS stage;
radiation therapy;
transferred transplantation of organs and tissues;
elderly and senile age;
pregnancy.

What happens in the body after infection

The period from the moment the infection enters the body until the first signs of the disease appear is called the incubation period.

The herpes zoster virus, once in the body, can live for years in the tissues of the human nervous system, waiting for a favorable moment, therefore, shingles has a long incubation period.

The course of the incubation period can be divided into stages:

Introduction into an uninfected organism through the mucous membrane, skin.
Reproduction (replication) of viruses in the body and colonization of the pathogen in organs and tissues.
"Capture" of the body, contact with the immune system, the synthesis of antibodies.

At the end of the incubation period, patients may notice the appearance of malaise, fever, discomfort on the skin, pain, itching of the skin. The presence of such complaints indicates the transition of herpes zoster from the incubation period to the next stage of the disease - clinical manifestations.

It should be noted that in some cases of herpes zoster, there are no rashes on the skin.

Do not engage in an independent search for symptoms and methods of treating a disease on the Internet, do not consult with friends about the disease. Shingles is a dangerous disease that, if not properly treated, can be fatal.

How to prevent the development of the disease

Prevention measures for shingles are as follows:

Normalize the mode of work and rest (more rest, walk, get enough sleep).
Add more fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs to your diet. Especially foods rich in vitamin C (cranberries, citrus fruits, rose hips). In the period of hypovitaminosis, take vitamin complexes.
Ventilate the room, especially on sunny days.
Do not use cloth towels in public places, only disposable ones.
Use disposable tableware in public places.
Treat all acute diseases in time, preventing the development of complications - for this you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Do not contact with sick people or wear a mask during their contagious period, during SARS epidemics, wear a mask in public places.
Do not wear other people's unwashed or ironed clothes.
If a case of herpes zoster infection has been reported in your home or workplace, treat all surfaces with an antiseptic.

You should take good care of yourself and your health, and if you still get sick, consult a doctor, treatment should take place under his strict supervision.

Herpes zoster: ways of infection, degree of danger, complications, treatment

Causes of shingles

Is shingles contagious or not?

general acute infectious diseases, hypothermia, hyperinsolation;
pregnancy;
diabetes mellitus or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
sleep disturbances and prolonged neuropsychic stress;
foci of chronic infections and intoxication of the body;
long-term use of immunosuppressants, cytostatic and hormonal drugs of the glucocorticoid series;
HIV infection and cancer;
X-ray procedures, chemotherapy.

Is it possible to get infected from a patient?

Infection can occur by airborne droplets, as a result of the use of common bedding, hygiene items, utensils, as well as as a result of direct contact with a sick person.

Shingles symptoms in adults

The clinical course of the disease is divided into 3 periods:

prodromal period.
The period of clinical manifestations.
The period of resolution and clinical recovery.

prodromal period

It lasts from 2 to 5 days. Targeted effective treatment during this period is impossible, since the disease is manifested only by general symptoms - headache, general malaise and weakness, often nausea and vomiting, fever up to 0, muscle pain (myalgia), enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes.

The period of clinical manifestations

Permission period

There are atypical forms of manifestation of the disease, for example:

abortive - single rashes or their absence;
drain;
hemorrhagic form with severe pain syndrome;
generalized, in which rashes appear on all skin integuments;
disseminated form, the probability of which increases with age - vesicles pour out at a distance from the affected area;
gangrenous, which is very difficult and usually occurs in the elderly and debilitated people; it manifests itself as a rash of vesicles with bloody contents and deep, long-term healing ulcers, followed by the formation of scars.

Possible complications and consequences

Complications of shingles are rare. These include:

encephalitis, which develops a few days after the onset of the rash;
myelitis (lesion of the gray and white matter of the spinal cord), which can develop approximately half a month after the rash and is expressed in a limited loss of sensation, and sometimes in half or complete (in severe cases) transverse spinal cord lesion;
paralysis of the oculomotor muscles - occurs after 1.5 months, and sometimes after six months from the onset of the disease;
unilateral, but more often bilateral, rapidly progressive retinal necrosis that occurs after weeks, and sometimes months;
paresis of the muscles of the extremities with the localization of the lesion in this zone.

in 90% - occurs with a superficial light touch;
dull pressing or in the form of burning, constant and deep;
periodic spontaneous stabbing character or in the form of "electric shock".

How to treat shingles

The goal of disease therapy is to reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease and prevent the occurrence of its complications. How to treat the disease?

The only effective pharmacological agent directed against the cause of the disease are antiviral drugs, which include:

Acyclovir - taken for 7-10 days, 0.8 g. 5 times a day.
Valacyclovir, which is a second-generation acyclovir, is taken for 1 week, 1 g. 3 times a day.
Famvir (Famciclovir) - for 1 week, 0.5 g. 3 times a day.

If there is no effect from taking antiviral drugs, antiviral therapy is continued until the appearance of new rashes stops.

In order to have a faster effect and prevent new rashes, you can use an ointment based on antiviral agents: Acyclovir, Acyclovir Akri, Zovirax, Vivorax, Infagel (immunomodulator).

As a result of adequate complex treatment, complications can be avoided. However, in some patients, pain of a neuralgic nature may persist for several years.

Shingles: how long does the disease last

Herpes zoster is an infectious disease that has a common pathogen with chickenpox - Herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is more common among the adult population and is characterized by the appearance of a painful blistering rash along the nerve fibers. It often looks like a streak of rash girdles the person's torso - hence the name of this infection.

Incubation period

The incubation period is the period of time from the moment of infection with a viral agent until the onset of clinical manifestations. Often this period has a clear time frame for each specific disease. The incubation period of herpes zoster can last as long as you like - months and years. The development of the disease itself is not associated with any virulent properties of the infectious agent. It is under the influence of certain external factors that reduce the control of the immune system over the virus. In other words, the disease will manifest itself only when the immune system is weakened, and herpes is activated in the nerve ganglia.

At the first contact with herpesvirus type 3, an uninfected person develops chickenpox. But after recovery, there is no complete elimination (removal) of the pathogen from the body. Herpes permanently settles in the nerve ganglia of the spinal cord and cranial nerves. And how long he stays there depends on how reliable the body's defenses are.

It is believed that the transferred chickenpox leaves lifelong immunity. Indeed, repeated cases of chickenpox are extremely rare. When the virus is reactivated in the body, herpes zoster usually occurs.

The main reasons for the weakening of the protective forces of the human body are as follows:

Prolonged excessive physical and psycho-emotional overstrain.
Lack of protein and vitamins in the diet.
Decreased immune defenses in old age.
Artificial suppression of immunity when taking cytostatics and radiation therapy.
Congenital and acquired immunodeficiency states.

This herpes infection can be ill several times during a lifetime, but it may also happen that the incubation period of shingles never ends, and the disease does not manifest itself.

Disease duration

How long the disease will last depends on the general condition of the patient with herpes zoster, as well as on how responsibly he treats the treatment. In the clinical picture of the disease, the following stages are distinguished:

prodromal period. It is characterized by general malaise, headache, slight fever. There is also pain, burning and itching in the area of future rashes. This period lasts 2-4 days.
Actually rashes. During this period, patients usually receive a course of treatment. The disease is treated for as long as the herpetic vesicles are poured. The average duration is 5-7 days.
The period of formation of crusts. Lasts about 10 days. The crusts pass, leaving behind pigmentation.

In total, the duration of the disease is from 2 to 4 weeks. A patient is considered contagious before the formation of the first crusts. This should be taken into account when planning quarantine measures.

Patients with shingles are dangerous in terms of infection for children and adults who have not had chicken pox. For those who have been ill, such patients do not pose any danger.

Preventive actions

For people who have had chicken pox, the prevention of herpes zoster mainly includes measures to strengthen the body's defenses, namely:

a complete fortified diet;
exclusion of hypothermia;
sufficient physical activity;
complete rest;
fight stress.

Those who have been spared by chickenpox should take measures to protect themselves from infection. Individuals with weakened immune systems should think about specific prevention - vaccination. If the disease occurs in a vaccinated person, it is treated quickly, easily and does not give complications.

Features of herpes infection

Herpesvirus, once in the body, remains in it forever. In the most unfavorable periods for human health, it certainly makes itself felt. And if it is impossible to get rid of it, then everyone can learn how to prevent and successfully treat the infections it causes.

Treatment of herpes zoster (lichen), its causes and symptoms

Herpes zoster (shingles) is a pathology of viral origin belonging to the herpesvirus family. The disease quickly affects not only the mucous membrane and skin, but also the peripheral and central nervous systems. The zoster virus is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the face and body, which are accompanied by increased pain.

The causative agents of herpes zoster

According to statistics, the appearance of the virus is observed in fifteen people out of a hundred.
Every year in foreign countries there is a manifestation of herpes on the body. Moreover, most of those infected suffer from postherpetic neuralgia.
Herpes zoster in one in three who had chickenpox in post-adolescence.
Initially, the virus, entering the body, contributes to the development of chicken pox, remaining in the body for the rest of life.

Herpes zoster, like any other infection that provokes a decrease in immunity in people. From numerous studies, it was found that more than half of the world's population are carriers of the virus. If herpes zoster has settled in the body and caused the formation of protective proteins, this does not prevent the patient from being simultaneously affected by other viruses of the same type.

The virus genome is represented as a linear double-stranded DNA molecule. The causative agent of infection is not resistant to the environment, it is sensitive to all disinfectants and to ultraviolet rays. At low temperatures, herpes zoster can persist for a long time period. In addition, the virus is resistant to repeated freezing.

Herpes zoster during primary infection occurs as soon as the virus comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract or with conjunctivitis. Then the virus begins to spread throughout the body, causing shingles or chicken pox. After the initial infection, the infection moves along the overly sensitive nerve fiber to the cells of the spinal ganglion, where it settles. Herpes zoster, affecting the body, remains to exist in a latent form. If the immune system has good resistance, then the body is reliably protected and the disease cannot manifest itself. But as soon as the defenses weaken, the pathology manifests itself as herpes - shingles.

Causes of the development of herpes zoster

As soon as the virus infects the body, the development of a serious illness begins - chickenpox. After recovery, the virus does not disappear, but remains forever in the human body. It settles in the spinal nodes and may not manifest itself for years. But when exposed to an unfavorable environment, it leaves the state of rest, in the form of a herpes infection. Herpes zoster on the face or on other areas of the body comes to life for reasons that have not yet been established. But it has been found that the awakening of the disease can occur due to a weakened immune system.

Shingles of a pronounced course depresses the cellular and interferon link of the defense system. The more damaged the immune system, the more severe the symptoms. Thus, the consequences of herpes are that the infected are predisposed to lesions of various kinds.

Experts were able to identify a number of factors that affect the development of a disease such as herpes zoster.

Immunosuppression or immunosuppressive therapy.
chronic stress.
Use of immunosuppressors.
Chronic pathologies of internal organs.
Oncological diseases.
Result of radiotherapy.
Surgical intervention on the skin.

It should be noted that the age of a person plays an important role in the development of the disease.

It is also desirable to note that an important role in the development of shingles is given to such a factor as age.

Most often, herpes zoster, the symptoms of which are difficult to confuse with other pathologies, affects people from fifty years of age and above. This is due to the fact that in the elderly - the protective function of the body noticeably weakens. Therefore, the human body is not able to contain the spread of the virus.

The consequences of herpes zoster can be expressed in varying degrees. It depends on timely therapy and the ability of a person to resist infection.

Varieties and symptoms of herpes zoster

There are such forms of the zoster virus:

Herpes zoster, the symptoms of which often have an erased course, can occur extremely rarely. The nervous system is affected by virus particles, which, under the influence of adverse conditions, are activated and multiply.

The incubation period in each case is individual. It may take several years from the moment of infection to the first signs.

Since the causes of the disease have not yet been established, it is almost impossible to prevent infection. The virus is transmitted in various ways. It is important to strengthen the immune system and not neglect the basic rules of personal hygiene.

The disease begins with the most unpleasant strong painful sensations in the area where the focus of herpes lichen is subsequently formed. Such signs are associated with infection with a lesion of the nerve processes. At the site of localization, the patient experiences a burning sensation with itching, bursting pain.

Such signs can be observed from several hours to three days. Further, an inflammatory edematous spot of red color is formed. Bubble formations will appear on it during the day. The rash looks like grouped blisters with a diameter of 0.3 - 0.7 mm. Inside each of them there is a serous fluid. The rash may not appear simultaneously, but increase gradually over 4 days.

Some time after the appearance of bubble rashes, they will begin to open, forming serous crusts or erosion.

As a rule, after 2 weeks, the epithelium completely restores its integrity. At the site of a viral lesion, depigmented spots appear, which disappear with time.

However, with a weakened immune system, secondary infections, for example, staphylococcus, can occur. This will lead to the development of purulent lesions of the skin on the background of viral infections. Treatment in adults of such a disease involves the use of external antiviral compounds. After healing, small scars may remain on the skin. Therapy for shingles usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.

Symptoms and treatment of herpes are directly dependent on the affected area. Among the main symptoms of the doctor are:

fever
headache;
malaise;
weakness;
increase in body temperature;
exacerbated reaction to odors;
rashes;
paralysis;
decreased vision.

Incubation period for herpes infection

Is shingles contagious to others? It turns out - yes, but not for everyone. Shingles, the treatment of which includes complex measures, is considered a contagious disease. But the virus is transmitted during contact with an infected person only if the second person did not have chickenpox.

Moreover, herpes zoster, the causes of which have not been identified, unlike chickenpox, cannot be transmitted by airborne droplets. You can become infected only by touching the affected areas of the skin. Therefore, the question about herpes zoster: is it contagious? - You can give an affirmative answer only in special cases when a person has a predisposition.

The risk of infection exists with the general use of some household items. The patient is dangerous to others only, and the stage of formation of bubbles, that is, in the first week. As soon as the blistering formations become covered with a yellow-brown crust, the patient is considered not contagious.

Daily wet cleaning of the room.
In the summer, keep the window in the patient's room open; in winter, ventilate at least six times a day.
Underwear and bedding, as well as household items of the infected are stored separately.
After washing, the patient's underwear is carefully ironed.
During care, for the skin of the infected, disposable sterile gloves should be worn.
The sick person should not wear tight clothes that disrupt blood circulation and cause pain.
The patient should be provided with a sparing regimen with maximum time for rest.
It is necessary to refrain from walking during the day, as the sun's rays will help spread infectious rashes.
Is it possible to wet herpes? Of course, it is possible and necessary, no one has canceled hygiene. However, this must be done carefully and not constantly. With lichen, you can wash yourself with the use of special means to eliminate this virus.

An uncomplicated disease is usually treated at home. If there are complications after herpes zoster, then it is better to be treated in a hospital. In addition, hospitalization is necessary in cases of damage to any area of the brain or eyeball. Such processes can lead to blindness or changes in the performance of the nervous system. In such cases, an examination by an ophthalmologist and a neuropathologist should be carried out.

In the following cases, with shingles, you should immediately consult a doctor:

if a baby under the age of one has become infected with herpes;
if the disease occurs in a pregnant woman;
when a patient older than fifty years fell ill;
if an infected person has diabetes mellitus;
with the presence of tumor pathologies;
in the diagnosis of chronic diseases.

In addition, a doctor should be visited if the pathology is manifested by the following clinical signs:

severe headache;
nausea or vomiting;
convulsions;
muscle weakness;
loss of consciousness;
decrease in visual function;
soreness in the ear.

Treatment and prevention of herpes zoster

Herpes zoster can pass without therapeutic intervention in 14-16 days. But such a recovery is usually seen only in young people with stronger immune systems.

Therapeutic procedures are necessary for patients with an acute form of infection. Those who, in addition to a viral infection, have an immunodeficiency state, or who have the disease arose against the background of severe pathologies of internal systems.

Therapeutic procedures are carried out in order to reduce the area of rashes and the number of bubbles. With the help of timely therapeutic methods, the risk of complications is reduced and the healing period is accelerated.

Treatment will reduce the syndrome of intoxication and correct violations of the immune system as a result of an infectious lesion.

Doctors prescribe treatment based on the complaints of the infected, according to the results of examinations and after receiving data from laboratory tests.

To treat such pathologies, doctors have developed special combined techniques. As therapeutic agents, antiviral and nonsteroidal drugs, analgesics and immunomodulating agents are used. In addition, patients are shown a diet with vitamin therapy.

Almost all medicines are used in the form of tablets or externally (gels, ointments, creams). The dosage and duration of the use of the drug is determined by the doctor, after the examination and examination. Therapy depends on concomitant pathologies and on the severity of the herpes infection.

To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to use vitamins of the main groups. A sparing diet is indicated in almost all cases. It is better to eat dairy products and vegetables, seafood, fruits and cereals. As a preventive measure, procedures are carried out to strengthen immunity and vaccination.

The purpose of vaccination is to create artificially active antibodies against the herpes virus. This composition contains live cultures with a reduced ability to infect. Currently, only one vaccination composition has been created and vaccination is carried out in extreme cases.

Such a disease is very common, since the virus remains in the body until the end of life. At the time of exacerbation of the pathology, you can become infected at the moment of contact with the skin of the patient. If the disease does not have complications and is not severe, then the patient is not hospitalized. At home, for two to three weeks, the sick person should perform a series of procedures in order to alleviate the symptoms.

Shingles treatment - diet, folk remedies and drugs

Shingles, known as herpes, is characterized by a rash and pain. Usually occurs in spring and autumn.

The disease affects mainly people over 40 years of age. In older patients, the process is difficult, so it is important to start treatment immediately.

With herpes zoster, the incubation period can last several years. The first discomfort appears a week before the rash develops.

An accurate diagnosis is easiest when redness and small blisters are present. They start to break down over time. These areas of skin crust over and gradually heal. In general, the disease proceeds within 3-4 weeks.

Sometimes patients do not form blisters. In this case, it is difficult to determine the cause of itching and pain.

Experts distinguish several forms of herpes zoster:

Generalized. The rash can form anywhere, including mucous membranes. Ringworm is sometimes confused with chickenpox, although it can develop as a complication in the presence of a cancerous tumor or a weakened immune system.

bullous. Several bubbles merge into one. When a large bubble dries up, a dark spot remains in this area. It is a scab made up of dead tissue.

Abortive. Patients do not develop pain and blisters. The rash goes away very quickly.

Visceral. One or more internal organs are affected. In this case, immediate hospitalization is necessary.

Anyone with shingles or chicken pox can be the source of the infection. Symptoms appear a few hours after infection.

Women who have the virus in their blood often get shingles during pregnancy. At the same time, there are practically no symptoms, which is why it is sometimes difficult to establish the cause of a missed pregnancy or miscarriage. Surviving babies may experience visual and hearing impairments, as well as nervous system impairments.

contagiousness

Adults and children in contact with the sick person can become infected with shingles and chickenpox. It is worth noting that lichen is contagious during the healing of old blisters and the formation of new ones.

When all the bubbles burst and a crust forms in their place, the virus will stop spreading. At this stage, lichen is no longer contagious.

Read about the treatment of pityriasis versicolor in humans in this article.

A non-contagious skin disease are wen on the body. They occur due to blockage of the sebaceous glands.

Causes and symptoms

Shingles is caused by the herpes virus, which is thought to be the causative agent of chickenpox. In patients after the transfer of chickenpox, the virus "falls into hibernation" in nerve cells. Over time, it can again enter the bloodstream, which will lead to the occurrence of shingles.

So far, scientists do not know how to identify the virus during "hibernation". It is known that people of retirement age and patients with oncology are subject to its activation.

Reasons why the virus "wakes up":

Decreased immunity associated with physical injury, severe stress, and the use of certain drugs.
Hypothermia.
Various infectious and oncological diseases.
HIV infection, AIDS.
Conducting radiation therapy.

Early signs of shingles are fever, chills, fatigue, and headache. Also, some patients complain of burning and mild itching. This period lasts 1-4 days, and in adults it can take place within a week.

In places of damage to the nervous tissue, pink itchy seals appear, in place of which vesicles with serous contents form. They are usually localized on the face and chest.

In some cases, there is an increase in the lymph nodes, and in children there may be inflammation of the airways.

Another type of skin pathology is colored lichen. In appearance, it differs from the girdle.

How to treat pityriasis versicolor is described in this manual. The course of therapy should be comprehensive.

Treatment

If you suspect shingles, you should visit a dermatologist. An experienced doctor will make a diagnosis based on the patient's complaints and test results.

To get rid of shingles, you need to follow the recommendations:

Do not wear tight clothes and things made of synthetic materials.
Use of antibiotic-based ointments is possible only according to indications, otherwise skin irritation is possible.
The rash with the formed crust must be covered with a special sterile bandage.
Don't visit public places unless absolutely necessary.
Stress and strenuous exercise should be avoided.

In general, treatment is aimed at preventing the spread of infection, eliminating pain and reducing intoxication of the body.

Medical

Treatment of lichen should be started in the first days of the disease, which will help to avoid complications. It is worth remembering that only a doctor should prescribe medications, because they have many contraindications.

With herpes zoster, antiviral drugs are required. This is especially true for elderly patients and people with affected trigeminal nerve.

Aciclovir or famciclovir should be taken three times a day for a week immediately after the rash develops. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for a maximum of 5-7 days.

To relieve itching, ice from chamomile decoction is applied to the affected areas. Also for these purposes, ointments with antibiotics in the composition are used. Antihistamines will help relieve swelling.

In some cases, an additional study of the state of the immune system is required. If the patient's immunity is weakened, it is necessary to take appropriate drugs.

With severe pain syndrome, the doctor will select analgesics. It is also recommended to take vitamins A and group B. When the acute period of the disease passes, physiotherapy procedures may be prescribed.

In severe lichen, complex treatment is necessary, including:

Antiviral drugs.
Painkillers and anticonvulsants.
Analgesics.
Immunomodulators, namely amixin, immunomax, ferrovir or allomedin.
Vitamin complexes.
Antiseptics for local treatment.
Drugs that accelerate the process of epithelialization.

Folk remedies

Any folk remedies for shingles can only be used as an additional therapy. You must first consult with your doctor, because there is a possibility of serious complications.

Popular remedies that help get rid of pain and itching:

Baths with sulphurous water and the addition of salt.
Compresses based on salt and bread, which must be applied to the affected areas twice a day for half an hour.
Skin treatment with natural bitter almond oil.
Flax compresses, which must be boiled in milk with the addition of butter in a ratio of 1: 1;
Compresses from aloe juice and burdock leaves, which are poured with boiling water and left for 12 hours.

Therapeutic diet

Nutrition is an important factor that contributes to the effective treatment of herpes zoster. This disease often occurs in older people with weakened immune systems. As we age, the absorption of vitamins and minerals deteriorates. Therefore, it is necessary to take special vitamin complexes and revise the diet.

From drinks it is worth preferring green tea without additives.

In the autumn-spring period, the diet should be as useful as possible. It is necessary to use citrus fruits, legumes, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin. Any kind of nuts should also be in the diet.

Consequences

If during the treatment of herpes zoster it was not possible to avoid bacterial infection, then suppuration is noted in the damaged areas.

More serious complications occur when the disease affects the face. Such patients should definitely consult with an ophthalmologist.

The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia.

In this condition, the pain persists even after the complete disappearance of the rash.

Other effects of shingles:

Paralysis of the facial nerve.
Pneumonia.
Decreased visual acuity.
Diseases of the genitourinary system.
Meningoencephalitis.

Shingles with proper timely treatment does not pose a serious danger. It is enough to follow the recommendations of the doctor and avoid contact with other patients.

Lichen planus is a fairly common skin disease that quickly becomes chronic.

Most often, it is a companion of other diseases (gastric ulcer, gastritis, liver cirrhosis, duodenal ulcer). What Causes Disease? →

Lichen versicolor (also called pityriasis versicolor) can appear as multi-colored patches of varying sizes on the skin. The disease is fungal in nature.

The causative agent is the skin fungus pitirosporum oval, which lives on the skin of almost every person. The fungus infects the stratum corneum of the skin and the cuticle of the hair. What ointments will help →

Pityriasis versicolor in humans is a fungal skin disease caused by a fungus of the genus Malassezia. This fungus lives in the stratum corneum of the epidermis.

It appears as flaky patches on the skin. Since pityriasis versicolor can be of different shades, it is also called versicolor. Effective Treatments→

Shingles (shingles)

Which Doctors Should You See If You Have Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

What is Shingles (shingles)

People who have previously had chickenpox get sick. Sick mainly of elderly and senile age. The frequency of the disease varies from 5 to 10 per 1000 people in age. In some patients (about 2% among patients with normal immunity and in 10% of patients with immunodeficiencies), the disease occurs again. When children who have not been sick before come into contact with patients with herpes zoster, they develop typical chicken pox.

What causes shingles (shingles)

The causative agent of the disease is a virus of the Herpesviridae family that causes shingles and chicken pox. Like many other members of the Herpesviridae family, the virus is unstable in the external environment: it quickly dies when heated, under the influence of ultraviolet rays and disinfectants. Able to be stored for a long time at low temperatures and withstand repeated freezing.

Pathogenesis (what happens?) during Shingles (shingles)

Shingles often occurs in individuals who are exposed to various effects that weaken the immune system (patients with leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, neoplasms, receiving chemotherapy, long-term receiving corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, especially often the infection develops in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). People of senile age get sick due to the age-related decrease in immune protection. As a result, a latent infection with the varicella-zoster virus is activated, which has been stored in the body for several decades without causing any clinical manifestations. An obligatory component of the activation of the infection is a kind of viral ganglioneuritis with damage to the intervertebral ganglia (or ganglia of the cranial nerves) and damage to the posterior roots. The virus can involve autonomic ganglia in the process and cause meningoencephalitis. Internal organs may also be affected. Thus, in the picture of shingles, in contrast to chickenpox, not so much the epitheliotropic as the neurotropic properties of the virus come to the fore.

Shingles (shingles) symptoms

The incubation period for shingles (from the transfer of primary infection to activation) lasts for many years.

The initial period of the disease can be manifested by prodromal signs: headache, malaise, subfebrile body temperature, chilling, dyspeptic disorders. At the same time, pain, burning and itching may occur, as well as tingling and paresthesia along the peripheral nerve trunks in the area of future rashes. The intensity of these subjective local signs is different in individual patients. The duration of the initial period varies from 1 to 3-4 days; in adults it is observed more often and it is usually longer than in children.

In most cases, the onset is acute. Body temperature can rise up to °C; its rise is accompanied by general toxic reactions (headache, malaise, chilling). At the same time, in the zone of innervation of one or more spinal ganglia, skin rashes appear with pain and other subjective sensations characteristic of them.

At first, the exanthema looks like limited pink spots 2-5 mm in size, however, on the same or the next day, small, closely grouped vesicles with transparent serous contents are formed against their background, located on a hyperemic and edematous base. In most cases, exanthema is accompanied by an increase and soreness of regional lymph nodes; children often show signs of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

The exanthema is localized according to the projection of one or another sensory nerve. Most often, the lesion is unilateral: along the intercostal nerves, branches of the trigeminal nerve on the face, less often along the nerves of the extremities. In some cases, skin lesions in the genital area are observed. In the dynamics of the disease, at intervals of several days, new spots may appear with the development of vesicular elements against their background. After a few days, the erythematous background on which the vesicles are located turns pale, their contents become cloudy. Subsequently, the vesicles dry up, crusts form, which fall off by the end of the 3rd week of the disease, leaving light pigmentation.

The elevated body temperature lasts for several days, the symptoms of toxicosis disappear with its normalization.

The following clinical forms of herpes zoster are distinguished:

2) ear and eye;

3) gangrenous (necrotic);

4) herpes zoster with damage to the autonomic ganglia;

The most common gangliocutaneous form of the disease begins acutely with fever, symptoms of general intoxication, and pronounced burning pains at the site of future rashes. After 3-4 days (sometimes only a few days later), a characteristic rash appears. Localization of pain and rash corresponds to the affected nerves (usually intercostal) and has a girdle character. The pains sometimes become unbearable, aggravated by the slightest touch to the skin, by cooling, by movement. At the site of a vesicular rash, infiltration and hyperemia of the skin first occurs, on which bubbles then appear in groups, filled with transparent, and then cloudy contents. The bubbles dry up and turn into crusts. Sometimes the disease is characterized by intoxication and neuralgic pain, there is no rash. When skin rashes appear, the pain usually becomes less intense.

Typical clinical symptoms are ocular and ear forms of herpes zoster. In the ophthalmic form, the trigeminal node (Gasser's node) is affected and the rashes are localized along the branches of the trigeminal nerve (on the mucous membranes of the eye, nose, and on the skin of the face). With the ear form, the cranked node is involved in the process, and rashes appear on the auricle and around it, and may also be in the external auditory canal. Facial paralysis may develop. The rash is preceded by symptoms of general intoxication and fever. Pronounced trigeminal neuralgia, which can last for several weeks. In the ocular form, specific viral keratitis is observed, less often iritis, glaucoma.

Gangrenous (necrotic) form of herpes zoster usually develops in debilitated individuals. There is a deep skin lesion with the subsequent formation of scars. It can be assumed that the stratification of bacterial infection plays a certain role in the genesis of these forms.

The meningoencephalitic form is relatively rare. The disease is characterized by a severe course, mortality is above 60%. This form begins with ganglionic manifestations, more often in the region of the intercostal nerves, although it can also be in the cervical region. In the future, symptoms of meningoencephalitis appear (ataxia, hallucinations, hemiplegia, meningeal symptoms, coma may occur). The time from the appearance of skin rashes to the development of encephalopathy ranges from 2 days to 3 weeks.

generalized form. Sometimes, a few days after the onset of a localized exanthema, single or multiple vesicles appear on all areas of the skin and even on the mucous membranes, which is often mistakenly regarded as joining the chickenpox herpes zoster. With the generalized nature of the exanthema, as well as in cases where localized herpes does not go away within 2-3 weeks, immunodeficiency or the development of malignant neoplasms should be suspected.

abortion form. Characterized by the rapid disappearance of erythematous-papular rash and the absence of vesicles.

Any of the above forms may be accompanied by damage to the autonomic ganglia with the development of symptoms unusual for herpes zoster (vasomotor disorders, Horner's syndrome, urinary retention, constipation or diarrhea).

The severity of the disease is often directly related to the location of the exanthema. Cases with the location of rashes in the area of innervation of the supraorbital, frontal and nasociliary nerves are distinguished by intense neuralgic pain, hyperemia and swelling of the skin, damage to the eyelids, and sometimes the cornea.

The duration of the clinical manifestations of herpes zoster in the abortive form averages several days, in the acute course of the week, in the protracted - more than a month.

Pain in the exanthema with shingles have a pronounced vegetative character: they are burning, paroxysmal, worse at night and are often accompanied by pronounced emotional reactions. Local paresthesias and skin sensitivity disorders are often observed. Possible radicular paresis of the facial and oculomotor nerves, limbs, abdominal muscles, bladder sphincter.

The disease can proceed with the development of serous meningitis; inflammatory changes in the CSF are not always accompanied by severe meningeal symptoms. In rare cases, encephalitis and meningoencephalitis are observed in the acute period. Cases of polyradiculoneuropathy and acute myelopathy have been described.

The first episode of shingles is usually followed by a sustained remission; recurrence of the disease is observed in no more than a few percent of cases. Most patients recover without residual effects, but neuralgic pain can persist for a long time, for several months or even years.

Complications of herpes zoster: transverse myelitis, accompanied by motor paralysis.

Herpes zoster is more severe in people with HIV and other immunodeficiencies. The duration of the period of the appearance of the rash increases to 1 week, the crusts covering the vesicles dry up no earlier than the 3rd week of the disease. Patients with lymphogranulomatosis or lymphoma are most at risk of developing progressive herpes zoster, and approximately 40% of them may have a rash spread over the entire surface of the skin. 5-10% of persons with disseminated skin manifestations develop viral pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, hepatitis and other severe complications.

Diagnosis of shingles (shingles)

With a detailed clinical picture of gangliocutaneous forms of herpes zoster, the diagnosis is not difficult. Errors often occur in the initial period of the disease, when there are symptoms of intoxication, fever and sharp pains. In these cases, angina pectoris, pleurisy, pulmonary infarction, renal colic, acute appendicitis, etc. are erroneously diagnosed. Differentiate from herpes simplex, erysipelas, acute eczema; a generalized form of shingles - from chickenpox. For laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis, detection of the virus by microscopy or using the immunofluorescent method, isolation of the virus in tissue cultures, and serological methods are used.

Laboratory diagnosis of shingles is not widely practiced.

Treatment of shingles (shingles)

For the first time during the days of illness, measures are taken to combat intoxication, relieve pain and prevent the generalization of infection. The widespread occurrence of varicella causes the presence of antibodies in normal human immunoglobulin. This drug is prescribed intramuscularly as early as possible in a dose of 5-10 ml. A single injection is sufficient. It is mandatory to administer human immunoglobulin in the treatment of persons whose disease has occurred against the background of the use of cytostatics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, in the presence of severe concomitant diseases (leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, HIV infection, etc.). Drugs that suppress immunogenesis should be discontinued. Antibiotics are prescribed only when secondary bacterial complications occur. At high fever, 5% glucose solution, Ringer-Locke solution, isotonic sodium chloride solution are administered to combat intoxication. Vitamins are prescribed. Removing excruciating pain is a difficult task. They use non-narcotic analgesics in combination with tranquilizers, sometimes you have to resort to prescribing drugs. Additionally, electrophoresis of novocaine, novocaine blockade is carried out, diathermy is prescribed.

With the appearance of herpetic eruptions, the same drugs are applied topically as with chicken pox. In gangrenous forms, increased doses (10-20 ml) of normal human immunoglobulin are repeatedly administered, antibiotics with anti-staphylococcal activity (oxacillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, rifampicin) are prescribed intramuscularly. Topically use ointments containing antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin). In severe forms of the disease, intravenous administration of ribavirin at a dose of 15 mg/kg per day as a long-term (for 12 hours) intravenous infusion is used. The introduction of acyclovir does not reduce pain, but prevents the development of visceral complications.

The prognosis is favorable, with the exception of the encephalitic form.

Prevention of shingles (herpes zoster)

Preventive measures in the outbreak are not carried out.

Interesting Facts.

According to statistics, the appearance of the virus is observed in fifteen people out of a hundred.
Every year in foreign countries there is a manifestation of herpes on the body. Moreover, most of those infected suffer from postherpetic neuralgia.
Herpes zoster in one in three who had chickenpox in post-adolescence.
Initially, the virus, entering the body, contributes to the development of chicken pox, remaining in the body for the rest of life.

Causes of the development of herpes zoster

Experts were able to identify a number of factors that affect the development of a disease such as herpes zoster.

Immunosuppression or immunosuppressive therapy.
chronic stress.
Use of immunosuppressors.
Chronic pathologies of internal organs.
Oncological diseases.
Result of radiotherapy.
Surgical intervention on the skin.

It should be noted that the age of a person plays an important role in the development of the disease.
It is also desirable to note that an important role in the development of shingles is given to such a factor as age.

The consequences of herpes zoster can be expressed in varying degrees. It depends on timely therapy and the ability of a person to resist infection.

Varieties and symptoms of herpes zoster

There are such forms of the zoster virus:

ear;
eye;
bullous;
hemorrhagic;
gangrenous;
abortive;
meningoencephalitic.

The incubation period in each case is individual. It may take several years from the moment of infection to the first signs.
Since the causes of the disease have not yet been established, it is almost impossible to prevent infection. The virus is transmitted in various ways. It is important to strengthen the immune system and not neglect the basic rules of personal hygiene.

Such signs can be observed from several hours to three days. Further, an inflammatory edematous spot of red color is formed. Bubble formations will appear on it during the day. The rash looks like grouped blisters with a diameter of 0.3-0.7 mm. Inside each of them there is a serous fluid. The rash may not appear simultaneously, but increase gradually over 4 days.

Some time after the appearance of bubble rashes, they will begin to open, forming serous crusts or erosion.
As a rule, after 2 weeks, the epithelium completely restores its integrity. At the site of a viral lesion, depigmented spots appear, which disappear with time.

Symptoms and treatment of herpes are directly dependent on the affected area. Among the main symptoms of the doctor are:

fever
headache;
malaise;
weakness;
increase in body temperature;
exacerbated reaction to odors;
rashes;
paralysis;
decreased vision.

Incubation period for herpes infection

Moreover, herpes zoster, the causes of which have not been identified, unlike chickenpox, cannot be transmitted by airborne droplets. You can become infected only by touching the affected areas of the skin. Therefore, the question about herpes zoster: is it contagious? - you can give an affirmative answer only in special cases when a person has a predisposition.

The risk of infection exists with the general use of some household items. The patient is dangerous to others only, and the stage of formation of bubbles, that is, in the first week. As soon as the blistering formations become covered with a yellow-brown crust, the patient is considered not contagious.

Daily wet cleaning of the room.
In the summer, keep the window in the patient's room open; in winter, ventilate at least six times a day.
Underwear and bedding, as well as household items of the infected are stored separately.
After washing, the patient's underwear is carefully ironed.
During care, for the skin of the infected, disposable sterile gloves should be worn.
The sick person should not wear tight clothes that disrupt blood circulation and cause pain.
The patient should be provided with a sparing regimen with maximum time for rest.
It is necessary to refrain from walking during the day, as the sun's rays will help spread infectious rashes.
Is it possible to wet herpes? Of course, it is possible and necessary, no one has canceled hygiene. However, this must be done carefully and not constantly. With lichen, you can wash yourself with the use of special means to eliminate this virus.

In the following cases, with shingles, you should immediately consult a doctor:

if a baby under the age of one has become infected with herpes;
if the disease occurs in a pregnant woman;
when a patient older than fifty years fell ill;
if an infected person has diabetes mellitus;
with the presence of tumor pathologies;
in the diagnosis of chronic diseases.

In addition, a doctor should be visited if the pathology is manifested by the following clinical signs:

severe headache;
nausea or vomiting;
convulsions;
muscle weakness;
loss of consciousness;
decrease in visual function;
soreness in the ear.

Treatment and prevention of herpes zoster

Herpes zoster can pass without therapeutic intervention in 14-16 days. But such a recovery is usually seen only in young people with stronger immune systems.

Treatment will reduce the syndrome of intoxication and correct violations of the immune system as a result of an infectious lesion.
Doctors prescribe treatment based on the complaints of the infected, according to the results of examinations and after receiving data from laboratory tests.

Herpes is a fairly common disease, the carrier of which is 90% of all people. It does not often lead to serious consequences and is generally considered safe. However, in the absence of treatment, this problem can still cause a lot of trouble. Typically, the incubation period lasts from 1 to 25 days, which is associated with the individual characteristics of the organism.

Young children are most susceptible to herpes, in which the disease manifests itself during the first few hours after infection. This article will talk about how long the incubation period of herpes lasts in children and adults and how to recognize the disease at this stage.

Types of virus

The incubation period is the period during which the virus that has entered the body begins to activate, that is, the time from the introduction of the virus to the onset of initial symptoms. The following stages of this period are distinguished:

During the incubation period, a lesion is formed, physiological parameters change. Usually these processes are latent. However, people who carry herpes can infect others.

Most often, the infection of the body with the herpes virus occurs through bodily contact, as well as by airborne droplets. The development of the disease after the initial infection can last from 1 day to 2-3 weeks. The most common lesions for herpes are the areas of the lips and nose, in this case, many liquid bubbles are localized there.

Each type of viral disease has a certain duration of the incubation period:

What determines the length of the period?

The herpes virus has good adaptability, it can withstand different temperatures. Rashes during infection can form not only on the face, but also on other parts of the body. Infection with the labial species occurs more often than the genital one.

People with strong immunity are often carriers of the infection, but they themselves do not suffer from its clinical manifestations, however, under favorable conditions for the virus, it can manifest itself. The duration of the onset of symptoms is influenced by the individual characteristics of the organism. Usually, the incubation of herpes after infection lasts:

An important role in the duration of incubation is played by the level of the body's defense system, which is why it is not possible to name the exact duration of this period. In some people, after penetrating the skin or mucous membrane, the virus does not make itself felt for a long time, while in others it develops after a few days or even hours. Most often this is due to a weakened immune system. The following reasons influence how many days the manifestations of the disease appear.