Herpes zoster: treatment at home and features of the disease

Shingles is a herpes simplex virus that first affects the skin and then even the nervous system. This disease is an infectious unwanted disease and is always caused by herpes. Most often occurs in older people from 60 to 80 years old.

Shingles can be treated with folk remedies.

Symptoms and causes of shingles

The causative agent is herpes virus type 3. The virus is localized in the dorsal roots of the spinal cord and nerve ganglia. After which he may not show himself in any way throughout his life.

Often occurs in people who suffer from diseases that reduce immunity. Such diseases include leukemia, malignant neoplasms, consequences of chemotherapy, use of immunosuppressants and immunodeficiency. The disease often occurs in old age as a result of a natural decrease in the body's protective properties.

Latent varicella zoster virus can persist for several decades without any symptoms. However, when immunity decreases, the virus becomes more active, causing characteristic symptoms.

The main symptoms of the disease include:

• skin itching;
• increased body temperature;
• general weakness;
• rashes that most often occur on the torso;
• tingling sensation at the site of the rash.

Symptoms of the disease appear in the following sequence: first, pink spots appear, characterized by swelling, and after 3-5 days papules appear.
Erythematous papules become vesicles containing clear fluid. At this stage of the disease, the pain intensifies, and enlargement of the lymph nodes also occurs.

After 5-8 days, the bubbles begin to dry out, and yellowish crusts appear in their place. At the same time, the itching does not stop, but if you scratch the inflamed areas, the situation can only worsen. Pigmentation remains in place of the crusts over time. After this, the swelling and tooth disappear, but the pain may persist for a long time.

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Transmission routes

The virus is unstable, so it dies when heated, using disinfectants, and exposure to the sun. Most often, infection occurs in childhood when infected with chickenpox. The virus enters the nerve plexuses and spinal roots through the blood and lymph, where it remains in a latent form for many years.

It is quite difficult to become infected with the virus. Unlike chickenpox, epidemic outbreaks of the disease are not observed. Adults become infected from a sick person quite often. As a rule, children and adults who have not had chickenpox become infected with shingles.

Infection occurs through airborne droplets, through the use of shared utensils, bedding, personal hygiene items, as well as through direct contact with a person who has an active form of the disease.

The causes of shingles and recommendations for its treatment can be found out by watching the video.

Treatment of other diseases starting with the letter - o

The information is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and methods of its treatment, consult your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal.

Consequences and complications

Complications from herpes zoster are quite rare. Such complications include:

• encephalitis, which develops after a week;
• myelitis developing after 12-15 days;
• paralysis of the extraocular muscles, which occurs from 30 to 180 days;
• paresis of the muscles of the upper and lower extremities;
• retinal necrosis that occurs after several weeks or even months.

The most common consequence is postherpetic itching and severe pain, occurring in every fifth case of the disease. Postherpetic neuralgia can bother the patient for several months or years. Neuralgia comes in several types:

• pain occurs with a light touch;
• constant dull pain or burning;
• spontaneous stabbing pain or pain that resembles electric shocks.

Shingles is most dangerous during pregnancy. It can cross the placenta and affect the fetal nervous system. Therefore, herpes zoster causes fetal deformities or death. If the disease occurs in the first trimester, spontaneous miscarriage most often occurs.

Folk remedies and methods of treating herpes zoster

Treatment with traditional medicine should be comprehensive, therefore, when a disease occurs, it is recommended to use both external and internal remedies.
The treatment process is aimed at relieving inflammation, destroying the virus, and reducing symptoms such as pain, itching and fever. Before blisters appear on the body, it is effective to apply a towel soaked in cool water to the inflamed areas. It is important to maintain immunity, because the main cause of the disease is a decrease in the body’s protective functions. Therefore, it is necessary to include a complex of vitamins in treatment, as well as products containing vitamin B and C.

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When bubbles appear, they should be lubricated with brilliant green, fucorcin and a solution of potassium permanganate.

Why does shingles cause pain?

The main causes of pain with herpes zoster are a rash and a large area of ​​skin damage. As the disease develops, the proper functioning of nerve cells is disrupted, and as the virus actively multiplies, the nerve endings become too sensitive.

Most patients compare the pain symptom to the passage of current through the body. Burning and boring sensations bring a lot of suffering to the patient. For some, the pain manifests itself in the form of shooting, twitching or stabbing sensations. The symptom may be accompanied by itching or numbness.

In the active phase of the rash, the pain worsens at night. The greatest discomfort is felt in an uncomfortable climate (cold or hot).

The pain will be concentrated where the rash is. This could be the back, stomach, face, chest. This suggests that these areas of the skin contain damaged nerve endings. Most often, patients complain of pain in the lumbar region or the entire back.

Topical Recipes

Treatment of shingles primarily includes various compresses, baths, ointments and lotions to relieve pain, itching and burning. The most effective traditional medicine recipes include:

1. Bath with starch. To relieve pain and inflammation, add a glass of starch to the bath. Take for 15-20 minutes. Carry out the procedure daily until the rash goes away;
2. Compress with immortelle. Pour a tablespoon of immortelle herb with 100 hot water. Wrap it up. Then use the infusion to wipe the inflamed areas;
3. Tar. This remedy effectively fights infection and relieves itching. Lubricate your skin with this product at least once a day. You need to wash it off after 20-30 minutes;
4. Garlic and castor oil. Mix 100 g garlic and 200 ml castor oil. Beat with a blender. Place the mixture in the oven for 2-3 hours at 70 degrees. Use the resulting oil to wipe the inflamed areas several times a day;
5. Bath with salt and iodine. To alleviate the condition and also dry out the blisters, take a daily bath with sea salt and iodine.

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Traditional recipes for internal use

Homemade recipes for internal use are aimed at fighting the virus, improving overall well-being, and boosting immunity. The most effective and safe home remedies include:

1. Ginger root. Ginger tincture boosts immunity and also fights the virus. To prepare it, pour 200 g of raw ginger roots with one liter of vodka. Leave for three days, shaking occasionally. Take the finished infusion 30 ml before each meal;
2. Willow bark. An infusion of willow bark also has excellent properties in the fight against disease. It is necessary to pour 20 g of dry roots with a glass of boiling water. Take 50 ml morning and evening;
3. St. John's wort and buckthorn fruits. Mix a tablespoon of St. John's wort and 10-15 buckthorn fruits, and pour 500 boiling water. Take 50 ml several times a day;
4. Melissa. Melissa decoction has excellent tonic and restorative properties. For a glass of water you will need two teaspoons of dry lemon balm. Drink a glass of decoction three times a day.

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Immortelle

Herpes zoster symptoms develop quickly, with blisters appearing and disappearing within a few days. To do this, you need to provide antiseptics so that secondary pathological microflora does not join and cause complications in the process. Immortelle has excellent antibacterial properties.

To prepare the medicine, you need to pour a few tablespoons of dry raw materials with a glass of boiling water and boil the infusion for a few more minutes. After this, let it brew. The bubbles need to be wiped or a compress should be made with this solution for several minutes. This will relieve pain and lead to rapid healing of the skin.

Diet

For shingles, it is recommended to take foods with vitamin E, such as viburnum, almonds, cashews, wheat germ, prunes and vegetable oil.
Also be sure to eat citrus fruits and other foods high in vitamin C. Also be sure to include foods containing bioflavonoids and antioxidants in your diet. It is recommended to consume as much plant foods and dairy products as possible. You should exclude heavy, sweet and fatty foods, which negatively affect the immune system and the general condition of the body.

Drug therapy

Antiviral therapy should be started no later than three days after the appearance of the rash. With normal immunity, patients are additionally prescribed prednisone, which must be taken for a month.

Acyclovir is prescribed for the first 7-10 days of the disease. Valacyclovir and famciclovir are also recommended. These medications are taken for a week.

If acyclovir is not effective for the treatment of herpes zoster, foscarnet is prescribed, which should be taken for the first ten days.

The following video tells more about the virus that causes shingles.

How to treat herpes zoster - details about the drugs

Treatment of herpes zoster is always divided into three stages. This:

• selection of etiotropic drugs;
• prescribing pathogenetic treatment;
• symptomatic therapy.

For successful treatment of herpes zoster in adults, it is necessary to use drugs from all three groups.

Effect on viral particles

Etiotropic treatment of herpes zoster involves the use of specific antiviral drugs.