Shingles
Get convenient online consultation for shingles with DocOnTrip during your travels – assess symptoms, receive timely diagnosis, and get antiviral treatment to manage the painful rash.
About Shingles
Shingles, medically known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful rash with blisters. It's caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus), which reactivates later in life. Shingles can be debilitating and requires prompt medical attention to reduce pain and prevent complications, especially while traveling. Early intervention with antiviral medication is key to minimizing its severity and duration. DocOnTrip offers convenient online consultations to assess your symptoms, provide timely diagnosis, and recommend appropriate antiviral treatment to manage the condition.
Symptoms
- Pain, burning, numbness, or tingling usually on one side of the body.
- Sensitivity to touch in the affected area.
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain, typically in a stripe wrapping around one side of your torso, neck, or face.
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over.
- Itching in the area of the rash.
- Less common but possible systemic symptoms include fever, headache, or fatigue.
Causes & Risk Factors
- Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that caused chickenpox. After chickenpox resolves, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain.
- Weakened immune system: This is the primary trigger for reactivation. Factors that can weaken the immune system include:
- Increasing age (most common in adults over 50).
- Stress.
- Illness or conditions that compromise immunity (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer, autoimmune diseases).
- Certain medications (e.g., long-term use of steroids, immunosuppressants after organ transplant).
- Having had chickenpox previously is a prerequisite for developing shingles.
Diagnosis via Teleconsultation
Our doctors can diagnose shingles by reviewing images or video of your characteristic rash, discussing the specific symptoms (e.g., unilateral pain and burning followed by rash), and your medical history (e.g., previous chickenpox). Early diagnosis is crucial for effective antiviral treatment, which is most beneficial when started within 72 hours of the rash onset.
Treatment Options
- Antiviral medications: (e.g., acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) are the cornerstone of treatment. They help reduce the severity and duration of the rash and pain, and are most effective when started within 72 hours of rash onset.
- Pain relievers: Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or prescription pain medications for more severe discomfort.
- Topical creams/lotions: (e.g., calamine lotion, lidocaine patches) can be applied to the rash to soothe itching and pain.
- Applying cool compresses to affected areas to provide relief.
- Keeping the rash clean and dry to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
- Avoiding scratching the blisters to prevent scarring and infection.
When to Seek Emergency Care
- Rash or pain involving the eye (known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus), as this can lead to vision loss if not treated urgently.
- Widespread rash that covers large areas of the body, or looks like chickenpox (disseminated zoster), which can be more severe and indicate a weakened immune system.
- Signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or red streaks spreading from the itchy area.
- Severe pain that is unmanageable with prescribed medication.
- Weakness or drooping on one side of the face (especially if the rash is near the ear or mouth), which could indicate Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a serious complication affecting facial nerves.
Why Choose DocOnTrip?
- Fast and convenient access to medical advice for rapid diagnosis and treatment, which is crucial for shingles, especially the "golden 72-hour window" for antivirals.
- Digital prescriptions for antiviral medications to minimize severity, shorten duration, and prevent long-term complications like post-herpetic neuralgia.
- Guidance on pain management strategies and proper wound care for the rash to promote healing and reduce discomfort.
- Expert advice to ensure you can manage your condition effectively and continue your travels with minimal disruption, even if shingles strikes.
FAQ
Is shingles contagious? Yes, shingles is contagious, but only to people who haven't had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. They can develop chickenpox (not shingles) if they come into direct contact with fluid from the shingles blisters. Once the blisters crust over, the virus is no longer contagious.
Can I get shingles more than once? Yes, while uncommon, it is possible to get shingles more than once. The risk of recurrence is generally low but increases with age and a weakened immune system.
Is there a vaccine for shingles? Yes, there are highly effective vaccines available to prevent shingles (e.g., Zostavax and Shingrix). Shingrix is recommended for adults 50 years and older, and for adults 18 and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed.