What is important to know about herpes on the body
Causes and complications of herpes zoster
Symptoms of the disease
Methods for the treatment of herpes on the body
Treatment of herpes zoster in the home
For most people, herpes - is nothing more than a nasty wound, which spoils the appearance. But we can not underestimate such a disease.
Aggravation of herpes can be a sign of many different health problems, starting with low immunity and ending oncology. There are 8 types of herpes. One of the most difficult of them - herpes zoster, or shingles.
Fortunately, there are many ways to cure this ailment.
In this article you will learn what are the symptoms, causes, effects of the disease and how to treat cold sores on the body.
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What is important to know about herpes on the body
The name of the virus was due to the peculiarities of their external manifestations. Eruptions like to surround the body of a sick man, lying, usually in the abdomen, back and chest. But it can affect other parts of the body: head, eyes, ears, hands.
The virus is very contagious and insidious. It is transmitted through contact with someone who has herpes, and use his toilet articles.
A person ill with herpes zoster, is a threat of infection from the first day of the disease and as long as the sores on his body will not cover crusts. In some people, the virus causes very severe and serious complications. So be sure to the active period of the disease is necessary to cease contact with young children, people over the age of 50 years, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, as well as with those who are not a child had chickenpox.
It is important to observe this rule. But if the patient contact with a person at risk is still held, the latter necessarily need to immediately consult a doctor, infectious diseases, to prevent the possible consequences of infection.
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Causes and complications of herpes zoster
The development of the disease provokes the varicella zoster virus. The first time the virus enters the body, in most cases in childhood, and then the person becomes ill with chickenpox. All the people who had been ill with chickenpox, the virus remains in "sleep" state in the nerve cells. But in everyone's life there are moments when the virus of the "sleeping" form becomes active. This usually occurs due to a decrease of immunity and in people over 50 years.
Studies have shown that the virus herpes zoster "lives" in the body for more than 90% of people, and each person has the risk of developing lifetime this disease is 10-20%.
Shingles - a very serious disease that can have serious consequences and complications.
As a rule, for young people it is not serious and usually ends in complete recovery without consequences. Much more difficult to tolerate the disease older people. But the biggest risk group - patients with reduced immunity, AIDS, diabetes, had undergone serious surgery (eg, organ transplant).
The greatest risk for this category of persons is that the virus is able to penetrate and hit the brain and spinal cord. This destroys the tissue of these organs and can subsequently lead to paralysis of the facial nerve, the legs or arms, to respiratory failure and even death.
If the herpes virus spreads to the eyes, it can lead to the development of glaucoma, hit the cornea, whereby the person can be blinded.
Sometimes, the virus spreads to the internal organs, what causes inflammation of the lungs and liver.
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Symptoms of the disease
In order not to run the disease is important as soon as possible to diagnose the disease. If you know the symptoms of the shingles, you can just start to treatment and prevent infection to develop.
At the beginning of the disease, when obvious symptoms yet, a person may increase the sensitivity of the area of skin that is infected with a virus, weakness, malaise, chills.
A couple of days is usually worse headache, but on the skin appear red spots, which soon turned into vials of clear liquid. The subsequent 3-5 days, the number of bubbles increases rapidly, they are very close contact with each other and can cover large areas of the body.
Then, the bubbles begin to burst. After them are small sores that are soon covered by crust. Sores completely heal within 10-30 days. Even after the sores heal, can leave marks on the skin - light or dark spots. They usually disappear over time, but some people may stay forever.
Sometimes the signs of herpes are different from the above: Can not get a rash, but it will greatly hurt the affected area of skin virus.
Several different signs of herpes eyes. In this area it is very tricky, because for a long time may not be visible. The reason for the concern and appeal to the doctor include the following symptoms appeared corneal scratch or bubble, itching and pain in the eye, a sudden decrease in visual acuity.
Herpes in the ear is also very dangerous. About infection may indicate bubble rash on the ear, pain, nausea, vomiting, sores in the sky and language, paralysis of facial muscles, eye pain, or worsening hearing loss. When at least one characteristic immediately contact LORu or infectious diseases!
In any case, if you notice any symptoms, immediately consult a doctor because these symptoms indicate a certain disease. The sooner you contact the person, the sooner you are diagnosed and begin treatment and the quicker the disease has receded. Handle is a therapist, who may issue a referral to a dermatologist or infectious diseases.
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Methods for the treatment of herpes on the body
Although herpes on the body - a dangerous disease, it is treatable. The easiest way to pass it in young people. As a rule, he does not even require treatment and extends itself within two weeks. However, patients at risk should get a full and proper treatment, which appoints specialist.
Primarily after diagnosis doctor prescribes antiviral therapy. As a general rule, prescribe Acyclovir, Valacyclovir and famciclovir in the form of pills or injections. This contributes to a more rapid recovery, and relieves pain. The average therapy is 7-10 days. The dosage of the drug prescribed by the physician individually for the patient.
To ease the pain at the beginning of the disease the doctor can, along with antiviral drugs, to appoint and painkillers. If moderate pain, the doctor may prescribe aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol and lidocaine in gel form. When severe pain help oxycodone, gabapentin, and others. Medicines. In any case, the doctors themselves say that to endure the pain caused by a virus, can not be in any way.
Sometimes after recovery pain may remain for some time, from a few days to several months. They also can not be tolerated and should definitely appeal to a neurologist. The doctor will make an effective therapy for post-herpetic pain (neuralgia). Typically, in this case, the preparations of tricyclic antidepressants, Pregabalin, Gabapentin. Back to contents
Treatment of herpes zoster in the home
It should be noted that the decision to treat herpes at home should take a doctor. In this case, it is important to comply strictly with all the rules of care for affected areas of the skin herpes:
impossible to scratch and scratch the affected skin. If there are no forces to suffer itchy, your doctor may prescribe antipruritic agent;
after each contact with the affected area of the skin must be washed well with soap and water;
affected skin should not come in contact with clothing;
in no way can not be self-pierce the bubbles;
Fresh vials daily need to apply gauze soaked in cold water for 20 minutes;
when the bubbles dry out, be sure to keep the place dry;
to protect the affected skin, it is not necessary to stick a band-aid: it will slow down the healing;
you can not rip off the scabs with healing ulcers.
With regard to the treatment of folk remedies, the doctors say that they are powerless against herpes zoster. Traditional medicine is effective only in the case of simple forms of herpes, severe form is treated with medication.
