Herpes zoster

According to official statistics, almost every inhabitant of the planet is infected with some type of herpes. One of the most common is herpes zoster, the infectious agent of which has the beautiful name Varicella zoster.

Herpes zoster - what is it?

Herpes zoster - what kind of disease is it, what is the mechanism of its development, and what's more, the "childhood" chickenpox infection is familiar to everyone here? Answering these questions, medical science has built a logical chain consisting of three consecutive stages:

1. Primary infection of the patient with the varicella-zoster virus leads to the development of chicken pox;
2. After the complete disappearance of chickenpox symptoms (clinical recovery), the causative agent of herpes zoster does not disappear anywhere from the body; it migrates into the cells of nervous tissue (as a rule, these are the ganglia of the central nervous system) and can be there in a latent ("sleeping") state for many years, having absolutely no effect on human health;
3. Under certain unfavorable circumstances for the body, the virus begins to reactivate, causing the disease herpes zoster (shingles, herpes zoster).

Causes of herpes zoster

The causes of herpes zoster depend on factors contributing to a decrease in the patient's immunity. The main trigger for the development of the disease is considered to be the natural age-related weakening of the body's protective forces - the risk group includes the elderly (over 60 years old). However, herpes zoster, the causes of which are related to situations when a person is regularly in a stressful state or the presence of concomitant chronic diseases (for example, diabetes or heart failure), can develop at a young age. A mandatory cause of herpes zoster is the presence of chickenpox in the anamnesis.

Herpes shingles symptoms

Herpes zoster (symptoms) in the initial stage is practically no different from a common viral infection (SRI). Patients talk about familiar "cold" symptoms:

• muscle and joint pains;
• increased body temperature, chills;
• headache, weakness.

When herpes zoster develops, symptoms manifest as skin rashes in the form of small bubbles with serous contents. The pain syndrome in the affected areas is characterized by increased intensity. The rash, as a rule, is localized on one side of the body and is limited to the zone of nerve innervation. Most often, these are intercostal spaces, but herpes zoster occurs on the face (in the area of ​​the branches of the trigeminal nerve) or in the places where large nerves pass on the upper or lower extremities. After 2-4 weeks, the burst bubbles dry up, becoming covered with crusts. Classically, during herpes zoster (symptoms), the presence of possible post-herpetic neuralgia is assumed in the future.

Herpes zoster in children

Herpes zoster in children is a rather rare disease, debuting at the age of 13 years or older. The reasons for the development of the pathological process can be an excess of actions that lead to a weakening of the immune system - hypothermia, overheating, overexcitement, illness, etc. d. In any case, herpes zoster in a child is a secondary disease after previous chickenpox.

Herpes zoster during pregnancy

Herpes zoster during pregnancy is an unpredictable event. At the same time, there is a probability of infection of the child with a herpes infection (about 8%). Herpes zoster in pregnant women, detected at a late stage, threatens to provoke neonatal chicken pox in the baby. Treatment of herpes zoster during pregnancy is associated with certain difficulties. Strong antiviral agents can be toxic to the fetus. It is important to observe hygienic procedures - full treatment of the affected areas of the skin with painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents approved by the doctor.

Diagnosis of herpes zoster

Diagnosis of herpes zoster consists of two stages - a visual medical examination, as well as, if necessary, additional highly informative laboratory tests. In the case of an atypical form of the disease, the following can be prescribed: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), PCR analysis (polymerase chain reaction method), etc. However, with characteristic clinical manifestations of herpes zoster, the diagnosis of this pathology includes:

• collection of anamnesis;
• thorough examination of the patient (skin, mucous membranes, palpation of lymph nodes).

Treatment of herpes zoster

Treatment of herpes zoster pursues two goals - stopping acute symptoms, as well as reducing the frequency and severity of relapses. Despite the huge range of modern drugs, there is no drug that would completely cure herpes zoster. Depending on the severity of the manifestations of herpes zoster, treatment in adult patients consists of a set of measures:

• systemic antiviral therapy - effective drugs such as Acyclovir;
• as a rule, analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve the pain syndrome;
• the consequences of intoxication are eliminated by antihistamines.

In order to activate the human immune system, the treatment of herpes zoster involves the use of immune-enhancing drugs. Antibiotics may be prescribed in case of suppuration of rashes, i.e. secondary bacterial infection.

Herpes zoster treatment in children

Herpes zoster: treatment in children, as in adults, is carried out on an outpatient basis. Indications for hospitalization of the child in the infectious department are a severe course of the disease or complications from the central nervous system. When herpes zoster is diagnosed in children, treatment (in addition to drug therapy) may include treating the blisters and crusts with green tea, as well as physical therapy (for example, quartz or ultraviolet radiation). Such measures are very important to prevent secondary bacterial infection.

Herpes zoster complications

With herpes zoster, complications arise mainly of a neurological nature. The most common is postherpetic neuralgia, which can be manifested by debilitating pain for several months or years. In addition, motor disorders are detected, sensitivity disorders develop. With the ear or eye form of shingles, the consequences are the most severe:

• deterioration of hearing;
• decrease in visual acuity;
• inflammation of the facial nerve.

Secondary bactericidal infection adds to shingles complications of an inflammatory nature (for example, pneumonia).

Each case of the disease requires an individual approach to the treatment of herpes zoster. Specialized doctors of the Dobrobut medical network will provide you with qualified advice. For example, they will give competent recommendations on the nuances of treating herpes zoster in the elderly or explain the need for timely vaccination.

Vaccination

Unfortunately, there is currently no registered vaccine for herpes zoster in Ukraine. However, if you have not had chickenpox, which occurs when you first become acquainted with the Varicella zoster virus, and have not been vaccinated against chickenpox, you need to do this urgently. Because chickenpox can have severe forms, especially in adulthood. Currently, in Ukraine we have the opportunity to vaccinate against chickenpox with two vaccines - Varilrix and Varivax, which are available at the Dobrobut clinic.