What does it look like when you have shingles?
The result is a distinctive, painful rash called shingles. The shingles rash can be a distinctive cluster of fluid-filled blisters — often in a band around one side of the waist.
What’s the best way to treat a shingles rash?
Treatment: Antiviral Medication. While there is no cure for shingles, antiviral medications can put the brakes on an attack. Prompt treatment can make a case of shingles shorter and milder. Doctors recommend starting prescription antiviral drugs at the first sign of a shingles rash.
What kind of pain does shingles rash cause?
In some people, the pain of shingles may linger for months or even years after the rash has healed. This pain, due to damaged nerves in and beneath the skin, is known as postherpetic neuralgia. Others feel a chronic itch in the area where the rash once was.
What happens if you have shingles in the brain?
If the shingles virus attacks the ear, people may develop hearing or balance problems. In rare cases, the shingles virus may attack the brain or spinal cord. These complications can often be prevented by beginning treatment for shingles as soon as possible.
Why do I get shingles when I’m 50?
Picture of Shingles. Shingles: An acute infection caused by the herpes zoster virus, the same virus as causes chickenpox. Shingles is most common after the age of 50 and the risk rises with advancing age. Shingles occurs because of exposure to chickenpox or reactivation of the herpes zoster virus.
What’s the best treatment for shingles for older people?
The Herpes zoster vaccine is effective in preventing or reducing the symptoms of shingles, and it is recommended for people 60 years and older. Treatment includes antiviral medication and pain medication.