SALT LAKE CITY — Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that occurs most often in older people. But the disease can be hard to diagnose in its early stages — precisely at the time when medications will be most helpful.

Question:

What is shingles and how would I know if I have it?

Answer:

Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox, cold sores and some STDs. Once a person is infected with chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains inactive. Shingles may occur years later, after the virus becomes active again in the nerves.

A person suffering from shingles will then experience a sharp, burning pain on an area of their body, followed by bumpy, weepy rash. The rash usually follows a nerve root, and it typically clears within two to three weeks.

Other symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Swollen glands
• Generalized "sick" feeling
• Difficulty in moving facial muscles
• Drooping eyelids
• Loss of eye motion
• Vision problems
• Taste problem
• Hearling loss
• Genital lesions Why the shingles occur is not clear, but many researchers suspect it is related to stress or nervousness and poor health. Oftentimes, older people will have recurring episodes of the shingles rash.Shingles is contagious if the infected person comes in contact with someone who has not had chickenpox nor been vaccinated for the virus. But the person who is exposed will get chickenpox, not shingles.

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While shingles is not curable, there are many treatment options. Antiviral medications — such as acyclovir, famiclovir and valacyclovir — can help to reduce pain and complications, as well as shorten the course of the disease. Steroid medication may be prescribed.

The National Institutes of Health recommends medications be started within 24 hours of the patient feeling pain or burning, and preferably before the blisters appear.

Other treatments that may reduce symptoms include:

• Applying a cool, wet compress to the affected area to relieve pain
• Keeping skin clean and free from constant irritation of clothing
• Taking soothing baths, and using non-perfumed lotions
• Resting
• Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of fluids; your body needs this to heal.

Remember: If it is hard for you to understand what is happening in your body, it will be hard for medical professional to diagnose the problem. Unfortunately, a shingles diagnosis sometimes comes after a process of elimination.

Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.

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