Herpes on the leg: symptoms, causes, methods of treating the virus

Causes of herpes on the leg

The disease occurs due to the activation of the HSV-3 virus, which affects children with weakened immune systems.

Herpes on the thigh and other parts of the body occurs due to the following factors:

• frequent stress, overload of the nervous system;
• ARVI, acute respiratory infections;
• disruption of the usual way of life;
• long-term use of medications that suppress the body’s defenses;
• physical overload;
• microtraumas, skin damage;
• contact with a patient or carrier of herpes.

Types and localization

The rash on the leg may last for several days.

With properly selected therapy, the disease goes away without a trace.

Herpes is localized throughout the body and can spread to the lower limbs, genitals or face.

There are several types of disease:

1. Isolated areas of rash.
2. A group of bubbles at some distance from each other.
3. Massive rash, accompanied by severe pain and signs of intoxication.

What is herpes

This is a viral pathology that manifests itself as grouped blistering rashes on the skin and mucous membranes. Primary infection with herpes occurs in childhood: the child contracts chickenpox and becomes a lifelong carrier of the virus. When immunity decreases, the pathogen that is in latent form becomes active. Leaving its place of “habitat” - the ganglion of the spinal cord - it spreads along the nerves throughout the body and appears on the skin.

Herpetic blisters appear on the back, sides of the body, and limbs. The locations of the blisters are the areas where the nerves that were most affected by herpes were located. Since relapses of the disease occur exclusively in places where nerve fibers accumulate, the herpetic rash is accompanied by intense pain. Extensive herpes zoster on the legs, torso, and arms is the most painful type of chickenpox virus.

This type of herpes virus often causes a complication - postherpetic neuralgia, which is expressed in the persistence of soreness of the skin after the blisters have healed (mainly in the rash areas). The pathogen enters the body through direct contact with infected people, through personal items and by airborne droplets. The infection penetrates the nerve cells and settles in the plexuses. In conditions of normal environmental humidity, herpes lives no longer than a day. It remains in the human body for life.

Can you have herpes on your leg?

Shingles on the leg (this is the second name of the disease) can be caused by any of three types of virus - labial, genital or Varicella-Zoster. However, the spread of the rash, the elements of which tend to merge, is not typical on the lower extremities, since a person’s legs contain a thick layer of skin. In this regard, herpes can multiply and show clinical manifestations only with a significant decrease in immunity or high viral aggression.

Symptoms

Signs of herpes on the foot or any other part of the body depend on the number of pathological elements. Often the patient notes fever, drowsiness, lack of appetite, aching joints or headaches.

In the first hours, slight soreness, redness or itching appears at the site of future rashes. Herpes blisters are located along the nerve endings, which increases the unpleasant symptoms when touched or moved by a person.

During the day, blisters filled with clear liquid appear on the legs. After some time, they open up and become covered with crusts. Complete healing occurs in 10-14 days. The papules leave red spots that go away on their own.

Clinical picture of the disease

Herpes on the foot and other parts of the leg occurs in stages:

1. The affected area of ​​the skin begins to hurt, swell, become inflamed, and redness appears even before the rash. Symptoms are often observed in only one leg.
2. The next day, characteristic herpetic rashes appear.
3. After 2-3 days, the herpes blisters on the leg mature, burst, and in their place ulcers form, which quickly become crusted.
4. After another 4-5 days, the crusts fall off and the symptoms disappear without a trace. In the case of herpes zoster, the period of active symptoms is prolonged, and after it there is a long-term neuralgic pain.

This is what the standard clinical picture of a viral infectious disease on the legs looks like. In addition to the standard form, herpes can be generalized - distributed throughout the body. A generalized infection affects not only the skin and mucous membranes, but also the surfaces of internal organs, as well as joints. All this causes severe symptoms associated with disruption of the affected organs and joints.

Diagnostics

Before you begin treatment for herpes on the legs, you should diagnose it.

Laboratory and instrumental

Main research methods:

1. Immunofluorescence reaction - blood or scraping particles are treated with colored antibodies. The reaction is positive when multiple inclusions and reactions appear.
2. Testing for viruses - the presence of a pathogen.
3. PCR is a study of herpes DNA.
4. Serological examinations.
5. ELISA - determination of immunoglobulin, which corresponds to the type of disease.
6. Additional examination for cytomegalovirus, in which IgG parameters are studied.

Differential diagnosis

Herpes on the leg should be distinguished from the following diseases:

• Increased sensitivity of the body to any substance, item of clothing, powder. In case of allergies, the bubbles do not burst and are localized at the site of contact with the allergen.
• Mycosis (fungal infections) - hyperemia and rashes with this anomaly last longer than viral processes.
• Shingles - has a specific location, usually on one half of the body (the back or outer side of the thigh).

Symptoms and diagnosis

Herpes zoster has characteristic symptoms, which help to establish an accurate diagnosis.

As a rule, some time before the rash appears, a person experiences discomfort in the lower limb, the skin on the affected area begins to itch unbearably, severe muscle and joint pain is noted, which then disappears.

In addition, herpes has the following features:

• 
  The skin in the affected area begins to tingle or, conversely, a feeling of numbness appears.

• Then papules with watery contents form. Bubbles of different sizes are collected in small groups. Swelling occurs in the affected areas.
• The course of the disease is characterized by an enlargement of all lymph nodes: axillary, submandibular and others, depending on the location of the virus and the nearby nerve.
• Shingles affects only one limb. But it can also affect the head, abdomen, chest and face.
• The disease is quite transient. After 2-3 days, the liquid in the papules begins to become cloudy, the rashes themselves dry out, and the affected area becomes covered with a crust. After it falls off, a dull mark remains on the skin. With proper care, scarring can usually be avoided.
• After initial treatment, relapse may occur. Full recovery will occur no earlier than two weeks later.

An accurate diagnosis is established not only by the results of a visual examination of the patient, but also by other indicators. First of all, for successful treatment it is necessary to determine which group of viruses a particular pathogen belongs to.

Initially, the doctor analyzes the number of affected areas, the location and appearance of the rash. Then it is determined which nerves are located near the affected areas, and the one-sidedness of the phenomenon is determined. The specialist also asks about the duration of the disease before going to the clinic and about possible contacts with other patients.

To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is sent for laboratory examination.

The laboratory analyzes the liquid from the papules, as well as blood to detect antibodies to the infectious agent. In addition, fluorescent hybridization is carried out, with the help of which the genome of the virus is determined. To do this, a scraping and an imprint of the skin from the affected area are taken from the patient.

The difference between herpes and other skin diseases

The symptoms of herpes are very similar to the manifestations of other skin pathologies, which often misleads the average person.

• Allergic reactions. The nature of the rash is reminiscent of herpetic, which makes diagnosis very difficult. However, with allergies, watery papules retain their integrity and do not become crusted, and they spread over the entire surface of the legs.
• Dermatitis and fungal infections. The skin begins to turn red and rashes appear in the affected area, which last much longer than with a viral infection.
• Shingles. The disease differs from herpes in the location of the rash: as a rule, it is the outer part of the thigh, usually only on one limb.

If the skin rashes have not disappeared after two weeks, then it is not herpes.

The danger of herpes

Herpetic rashes that appear on the skin of a healthy person do not pose a particular danger to his health. The most that the patient can feel is a deterioration in the general condition, pain in the affected areas and a feeling of discomfort.

Herpes is dangerous only for people with weakened immune defenses. These may be the following categories of the population:

• People who have been taking immunosuppressive drugs for a long time for various reasons.
• patients with secondary immunodeficiency;
• HIV infected people.

It is this category of people who most often suffer from the addition of a secondary infection - nephritis, hepatitis, viral encephalitis.

Herpes zoster is most dangerous for older people. After the course of treatment is completed and the rash completely disappears, old people may suffer from severe pain for a long time.

All of the above persons should undergo treatment exclusively in a hospital and only under the supervision of experienced specialists. Otherwise, the addition of bacterial microflora can provoke the development of sepsis.

Treatment options

Therapy for herpes on the legs is complex and involves not only taking pharmaceutical drugs, but also strengthening the body's defenses, proper nutrition and moderate physical activity.

During the period of exacerbation, the patient is prescribed bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, diet (excluding sweets, starchy foods, spicy foods, tea and coffee), and frequent changes of personal belongings to prevent the spread of infection.

Medicines

Among the pharmacological products most often used:

1. Antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Zovirax, Gerpevir). They are selected by the doctor depending on the course of the pathological process.
2. Locally, the rashes are lubricated with antiseptics (diamond green, Fukartsin).
3. Specific ointments or liniments that help heal the skin and prevent the spread of the herpes virus (Cycloferon).
4. Itching and hyperemia are relieved with the help of antihistamines (Suprastin, Fenistil).
5. In case of discomfort and in case of a rise in temperature, the doctor prescribes NSAIDs, taking into account the patient’s age and concomitant diseases.

Possible complications

In most cases, herpes can be successfully treated and does not cause serious harm to health. If the immune system is suppressed, post-herpetic complications are possible. Diseases that can develop against the background of the virus:

• meningitis, encephalitis;
• pneumonia;
• inflammation of internal organs (liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, etc.);
• herpetic arthritis;
• disruption of the cardiovascular system;
• damage to the reproductive system and urinary organs;
• conjunctivitis.

Neuralgia is often a consequence of herpes zoster. It manifests itself in the form of severe pain and itching in the affected area. Antiviral drugs are ineffective to eliminate the problem. In this case, antidepressants, painkillers, some types of physiotherapy and vitamins are prescribed.

Prevention

Simple rules will help prevent the development of exacerbation:

1. Compliance with the principles of proper nutrition.
2. Rejection of bad habits.
3. Moderate physical activity.
4. Washing hands after visiting public places.
5. Strengthening the immune system: hardening, walking barefoot on grass and small pebbles in the summer, taking vitamins and mineral complexes in the winter.
6. Timely treatment of chronic diseases.
7. Regular medical examination and medical examination.

If the disease is detected in time and treated correctly, the risk of exacerbation in the future is reduced, the pathological process passes without complications and severe discomfort.