What causes shingles in adults? This question may seem elementary but it is actually one of the most common questions asked by doctors and medical specialists when they are diagnosing patients with shingles. Shingles is an uncomfortable viral infection that causes painful rashes. Though shingles may occur anywhere on the human body, it most commonly appears as a single large stripe of burning blisters that covers either the left or right side of the body.
Shingles in adults can appear in any age group and so some wonder: is shingles contagious? The answer to that question is: yes. Shingles in adults is usually caused by a weakened immune system. When the immune system is reduced, the body cannot fight off infection.
The most common symptom of shingles in adults is the presence of painful rashes that cover at least one side of the body. These rashes tend to appear in the morning or late evening hours and are extremely itchy. The pain associated with shingles in adults tends to be intense. People experiencing symptoms of shingles may also experience nausea and/or vomiting.
In order to find out if the symptoms you’re experiencing are indeed caused by shingles or not, you must seek medical attention. A medical professional will perform a simple blood test called a panel immunization series. Your doctor will look for the following: signs of infection, such as fever, malaise, muscle fatigue, etc., and the appearance of a single sensory nerve ganglion rash that is covered by a bluish-green rash. If the virus that causes shingles has not yet infected your body, there should not be any visible symptoms. However, if you do have the virus, then your doctor will be able to confirm this diagnosis by performing a standard shingles symptoms treatment.
If you do have the virus, then your doctor will prescribe an antiviral medication to fight off the infection. Sometimes, the virus can be transmitted from one person to another through the use of oral sex. For this reason, it’s important to disclose sexual history to your partner when you think you might have shingles. You should also avoid having sex during any time you’re experiencing symptoms.
If you do discover that you do have shingles symptoms, you don’t have to panic. This condition usually clears up on its own within two weeks, so there is no need to stress out about the situation. If you experience extreme pain in your joints or other areas of your body (which can be associated with a skin rash), you should see a doctor immediately. This is often an indicator of an underlying infection, so you should treat it right away. While shingles symptoms treatment can take place at home, your physician can prescribe medications that will provide relief for your pain.
Some people don’t realize that complications from this condition could also be caused by a condition you might not even be aware of… Did you know that some people who experience difficulty sleeping, dizziness, confusion, paresthesia (pins and needles), and irritability may also be at risk for complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, and meningitis outbreaks? Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter viral shingles remedies that you can buy to help you overcome these symptoms. Keep in mind that these remedies can only help you get rid of the symptoms and nothing else, so you must follow the instructions to the letter in order to obtain the most effective results.
As mentioned above, your physician can provide a prescription medication to take once the viral infection has been eliminated. There are also some viral ointments and topical creams that you can purchase to help relieve your symptoms. Remember, however, that these products only provide short-term relief and do not address the root cause of the problem. If you have weakened immune system and ongoing complications from a prior illness, the last thing you want to do is treat yourself using these treatments. A better solution would be to focus on implementing a healthy lifestyle, getting plenty of rest, and taking all available precautions to boost your immune system.