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Chickenpox in an adult is considered a dangerous disease due to its severe course and high risk of complications. After the illness, in almost 100% of cases, stable lifelong immunity is developed, but sometimes the disease can develop again, in the form of shingles. This is called a breakthrough infection. Shingles is the recurrence of chickenpox in adults.
The varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus after recovery remains in the nervous tissue of the human body for a long time, but sometimes under the influence of predisposing factors it is activated and becomes pathogenic, that is, it manifests itself in the form of a recurrent disease. The reasons may be various stressful situations, severe nervous strain or the presence of chronic recurrent diseases that weaken the immune system.
Causes of the development of chickenpox again in adults
Shingles (shingles), i.e. re-manifestation of chickenpox in adults is a viral infection, accompanied by a rash and severe pain. The rash can appear on any part of the skin of the human body, but most often it manifests itself in the form of strips of small bubbles that encircle half of the body from the back to the chest.
Shingles is not as contagious as chickenpox. It is not transmitted by aerosol or airborne droplets, they are not infected after communicating with a patient with chickenpox. The source of infection is the fluid contained in the vesicles.
But we should not forget that a person who has not had chickenpox can become infected with the virus only through direct contact with the rash and he will get sick with chickenpox. In the future, he can also transfer shingles. The disease is not extremely dangerous, but proceeds with a pronounced pain syndrome.
Symptoms of recurrent chickenpox
The first symptom of shingles is an increase in sensitivity or the appearance of severe pain in any area of the skin, mainly on one side of the body. It can manifest itself in different ways: in the form of itching, tingling, burning. The pain may be intermittent or constant aching.
Two or three days after the onset of pain, a multiple red rash appears on the body in the form of bubbles, very often in the same place as the pain. The bubbles are filled with pus, and after two weeks they are covered with a crust. The rash resolves within two to three weeks after the crust falls off. Scars may remain in its place. In very rare cases, the appearance of a rash is not accompanied by pain.
Complications
Complications of shingles of moderate severity can be in the form of various skin infections. Very serious complications include loss of vision and postherpetic neuralgia. If a blistering rash affects the skin in the eye area (ophthalmic herpes zoster), then this is very dangerous, since the infection is likely to attach and spread directly to the eye membranes, which can lead to loss of vision.
Sometimes in patients, pain does not go away even after the disappearance of the rash and persist for a fairly long period of time. This disease is called postherpetic neuralgia. It is mainly observed in patients older than 50 years. Depending on which nerves were involved in the process, the following neurological problems may occur: with a hearing aid, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), facial paralysis, staggering when walking.
Diagnostics
When the first symptoms of shingles appear, you should immediately seek medical help. Only timely treatment started will help to avoid the development of complications and greatly alleviate your condition during the illness.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient’s complaints and examination, in the presence of a characteristic rash, its localization, pain syndrome. Sometimes a piece of affected tissue or fluid from a vesicle is taken for analysis.
Treatment and prevention
Shingles does not require any special treatment, but the disease can be much easier if medical care is provided in the early stages. Appropriate symptomatic therapy should also be started when non-specific symptoms such as fever, chills appear.
To prevent the occurrence of skin infections, you should strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene. The skin must be kept dry and clean. It is not recommended to wear tight-fitting clothing made of synthetic fabrics. The patient should avoid skin irritation by mechanical action or creams and ointments containing antibiotics. When crusts form at the site of the blisters, it is better to cover them with a bandage to avoid infection. During the period of illness, you should avoid physical exertion and try to appear as little as possible in public places.