Shingles is a disease that has been known since we were children because most of us may have seen friends have it, relatives have it. Or we may have it ourselves with obvious symptoms, สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น such as blisters or clear fluid inside, appearing on areas of the body, whether it be the arms, legs, face, back, or neck, and may be accompanied by a fever.
Even though when we were kids, we were worried about the scars. That it might leave on our bodies, but what is more worrisome is shingles in the elderly. Professor Dr. Somsak Lohlekha said that shingles can affect the patient’s life, such as numbness, inability to move the body, loss of appetite, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood swings, loss of confidence, and reluctance to socialize. The older the patient is, the more severe the symptoms may be, and may become chronic for many years.
What is Shingles?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oraphitchaya Krairit, Geriatric Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, said, “Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus that hides in nerve ganglia under the skin after the first infection. The virus will remain dormant for decades until the body’s immunity is low, especially due to aging. The latent virus will spread along the nerve ganglia, causing nerve damage. Symptoms will appear as a red rash and clear blisters arranged in groups along the nerves. Patients will suffer from the following symptoms, which are burning pain in the skin area, even when touched lightly. This pain will directly affect daily life. In some patients, the pain may be so severe that it affects their sleep.”
Symptoms of Shingles
Shingles symptoms start with a burning pain in the ribs, face and arms. After 2-3 days, a red rash will appear in the painful area and turn into blisters. The rash is usually arranged in groups or in a long line along a nerve. The rash usually disappears on its own within 2 weeks.
Complications of Shingles
Shingles may heal on its own without any serious harm. However, if there are complications, it can be more dangerous to the body than before, such as chronic pain for another 3-12 months, bacterial infections of the eyes, complications in the ears, or it can be as severe as pneumonia and meningitis, which can cause death. Complications are found in up to 50 percent of patients over the age of 50 and more than 70 percent of patients over the age of 70.