Every week we ask a medical expert a question about health. This week: I have itchy blisters on my torso, what could it be? Dermatologist Patrick Kemperman: “Shipes is very contagious. Stay away from sores.”
What exactly is shingles?
Shingles is a skin condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It often starts with an itchy or burning sensation on the skin. After a few days, red pimples and blisters appear, usually around the abdomen or waist. Hence the name “shingles”. .”
“But it can also occur in other places, such as on the back or face. The blisters appear in clusters and are located on one side of the body. The medical name for shingles is shingles.”
Herpes? Isn’t that a sexually transmitted disease?
“There are several types of herpes viruses. The best known are cold sores and genital herpes. But shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that also causes chickenpox in children. chickenpox disappears, the virus can lie dormant for years until, sometimes decades later, it becomes active and manifests as shingles.”
“Yes. Shingles is very contagious. Contact with blister fluid can cause someone who hasn’t had chickenpox yet to get chickenpox. So avoid that contact. Touch the blisters as little as possible and wash your hands often.”
In principle, shingles will go away on their own. After about ten days the blisters dry up and become scabs.
“In principle, it will go away by itself. After about ten days, the blisters dry up and become crusted. These disappear over time. Sometimes people still suffer from itching and pain afterwards. This is nerve pain – the virus enters the nerve endings sit up and send an itch or pain signal to the brain.This can be really maddening.
Is there anything to be done about it?
Shingles heals spontaneously. If necessary, blisters can be treated with zinc oil. If there is pain, touch the painful area as little as possible. In case of pain, you can take painkillers such as paracetamol. Prescribe other pain relievers or a relief cream.”
Shingles usually occurs in the elderly or people with low stamina.
“In cases of shingles on the face and in people with an immune system disorder, the condition is often treated with antiviral medications. If you have eye infections, it is advisable to seek advice from your ophthalmologist.”
Shingles usually occurs in the elderly or people with lower stamina. Data from the RIVM show that in 2015 around five out of a thousand Dutch people went to the doctor because of shingles. Some get so sick that they end up in the hospital. Every year there are about 375 in the Netherlands, mostly people aged fifty and over.”
“In fact, there are vaccines that reduce or even prevent the risk of contracting herpes zoster. You can opt for it from the age of fifty. It has advantages and disadvantages: with vaccination, the ailments can be less serious and the risk of pain long term it is significantly less But they are not included in the National Immunization Program, so they are usually not reimbursed. Consult your doctor or general practitioner or a vaccination center as to whether the vaccine is right for you.
Patrick Kemperman is a dermatologist at the Amsterdam UMC and Dijklander Hospital.
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