SHINGLES (HERPES ZOSTER)



Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.


Shingles:

  • Is a painful or itchy rash that usually occurs on one side of the body
  • Is caused be the Chicken Pox virus
  • After a person has chicken pox, the virus remains in the body forever. Sometimes the virus 'wakes up' and begins to multiply and causes the rash known as shingles
  • Shingles is only contagious to people who have NEVER HAD chicken pox. The virus is spread from fluid in the open sores. If the area is covered, the risk of spreading it to someone is very low
  • You should avoid contact with newborn babies, and people with very weak immune systems (chemotherapy or AIDS patients) until the sores have healed
  • The sores will heal in 1 to 3 weeks. The pain can sometimes persist for months or years afterward

Treatment:

  • A variety of creams and pills are available.
  • Please discuss your treatment options with your doctor.
  • If there is a lot of crusting or oozing compresses may be used twice daily. To do a compress, mix 1 teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of lukewarm water. Soak a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out, and apply the wet cloth to the affected area. Leave the cloth on the area for 1 minute and then remove it for 1 minute. Re-soak the cloth in the salt solution again and apply in the same way to the wound for 1 minute. Continue this for about 10 minutes