Lao Li, the eldest brother who loves to run in our community, suddenly took a long vacation recently. It turned out that he had a strange disease called shingles. The disease was so bad that she couldn't sleep all night.
Lao Li said that at the beginning, there were a few small red spots on his waist, but he didn't expect it to get worse and worse later, and the pain was like being burned. She went to the hospital, and the doctor said that this shingles is not a joke, especially for people like them who have been exercising for a long time and have a slightly weaker immunity, and they are most likely to be targeted.
Hey, this Lao Li usually looks quite healthy, why was he entangled by this disease? Experts have said that this disease must be treated in time, otherwise it will be more troublesome.
Let's also be careful not to let this strange disease come to our door. In other words, can Lao Li's disease be cured? Let's talk about that later.
01
Herpes zoster: Know the cause and how it spreads
Herpes zoster is an acute infectious skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is caused by the reactivation of the varicella virus.
Once VZV enters the body, it permanently resides in the ganglia, and once the body's immunity is weakened, it may cause the virus to re-activate and cause shingles.
Shingles is mainly spread through close contact. The patient's blisters contain the virus and can be transmitted if they come into contact with the skin of the affected area. In addition, the varicella-zoster virus suspended in the air is also one of the routes of transmission, especially in confined environments.
Dangers and prevention of shingles
Although shingles may seem like a skin disease, its harm should not be underestimated. Neuralgia caused by shingles is often unbearable and seriously affects patients' daily life and work.
If shingles occurs in important areas such as the face or eyes, it can also cause serious complications such as vision loss, blindness, deafness, facial paralysis, etc.
In addition, shingles can also cause postherpetic neuralgia, which is neuralgia that persists after the herpes has healed. This pain can last for months or even years, causing great distress and distress to the patient.
Recommendations for the prevention of shingles
The key to preventing shingles is to boost immunity and avoid contracting the varicella-zoster virus. Here are some specific precautions:
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet, exercising moderately, getting enough sleep, etc., can help boost immunity.
Avoid exposure to the virus: Try to avoid contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles, especially their herpes fluid.
Vaccination: Getting vaccinated against chickenpox reduces the risk of contracting the varicella-zoster virus. Although the chickenpox vaccine does not completely prevent the occurrence of shingles, it can reduce the activity of the virus and reduce the disease.
Treatment of shingles
Risks of informal treatment
There are many "local methods" for treating shingles, such as smearing incense ash and applying perilla water. However, these informal treatments not only do not cure shingles, but can also have serious consequences.
These informal treatments can delay treatment and lead to worsening of the condition. Some unofficial treatments can irritate the skin and worsen pain and itching.
Some unofficial treatments may contain harmful substances, cause damage to the skin, or cause allergic reactions.
Standardize the treatment method
Treatment of shingles requires a standardized treatment approach. Here are some commonly used treatments:
Antiviral therapy: Antiviral drugs can inhibit viral replication and transmission, shorten the duration of the disease, and reduce symptoms. Commonly used antiviral drugs include acyclovir, valacyclovir, etc. These drugs usually need to be started early in the course of the disease to get the best results.
Analgesic treatment: Neuralgia caused by shingles is often unbearable. Therefore, analgesic therapy is an integral part of shingles treatment.
Commonly used analgesic drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotic analgesics, etc. In addition, some neuromodulatory drugs such as gabapentin, pregabalin, etc. can also be used to relieve neuralgia.
Topical treatments: Topical treatments can relieve skin symptoms and promote healing of herpes. Commonly used topical treatments include calamine lotion, acyclovir cream, and others. Care needs to be taken when using these medications to avoid irritating the skin and contact with the herpes fluid to other areas.