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Chicken pox is a viral infection that causes rashes and blisters on the skin. Usually, this infection is not life-threatening, but for some people it can cause complications, such as nerve damage, blindness,orinflammation of the brain.

Chicken pox occurs when the varicella zoster virus is reactivated, for example due to a weakened immune system . The first infection with this virus causes chickenpox (chickenpox). After recovering from chicken pox, the varicella zoster virus can remain and "sleep" or be inactive for a long time. for years in nerve cells.

If this virus is reactivated, for example due to re-infection or when the immune system is weakened, this second infection will cause shingles. However, please note that not everyone who has had chickenpox will definitely experience shingles.

Symptoms of Shingles

Fire pox is also known by several terms, namely herpes zoster, shingles, and dompo. Shingles does not have an incubation period or period when symptoms appear from the initial exposure to the virus. This is because the virus is already in the body and is undergoing activation or "waking up" again.

At first, shingles can cause symptoms of common viral infections, such as fever, headache, chills and stomach ache. Next, the typical symptoms of shingles will appear, namely:

• A reddish rash that slowly turns into water-filled blisters or blisters
• The blister rash will feel painful or prickling
• The blister rash appears only on one side of a certain area of ​​the body, for example on the left chest area or on the left arm only

This blister rash can last for 7–10 days and then improves on its own within 2–4 weeks

Chicken pox can be contagious. However, if someone has never had chickenpox before, the infecting varicella zoster virus will cause chickenpox first. People with shingles can transmit the virus when the blisters begin to appear.

Treatment for Shingles

Chicken pox is caused by a viral infection. Therefore, shingles is treated by administering antiviral drugs to speed up recovery and reduce the severity of the disease. Generally, the doctor will give antivirals when the blisters start to appear. Types of antiviral drugs that can be given include:

• Acyclovir
• Famciclovir
• Valacyclovir

Apart from antiviral drugs, there are several drugs that can be given to relieve complaints or symptoms that arise due to shingles, namely:

• Fever medication and pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Medication to reduce itching on the skin, such as calamine lotion
• Medication to relieve nerve pain if the pain is severe, such as ointment containing lidocaine

Apart from that, when experiencing shingles, a person should meet their fluid needs by drinking water, getting enough rest, and doing home treatments to relieve itchy and painful skin, for example with warm compresses or soaking in an oatmeal solution. .

One of the conditions that often occurs after the shingles rash subsides is the appearance of nerve pain, specifically postherpetic neuralgia. The severe and disturbing pain caused by this condition can last for several weeks, months, or even years.

To reduce pain, the doctor can prescribe medication to relieve pain that works directly on the nerves, such as gabapentin or amitriptyline.

Complications of Shingles

Chicken pox can cause complications ranging from those that interfere with daily activities to those that are dangerous. These complications are as follows:

1. Poshterpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. If you experience this condition, the sufferer will experience severe pain on the skin where the rash occurs. This happens because the nerve fibers are damaged during shingles.

This condition will usually improve after a few weeks. However, some people continue to feel annoying pain for years after the rash has healed.

2. Vision loss

Chicken pox can occur anywhere on the body, including the eye area. In medical terms, shingles that occurs on the face, especially in the eye area, is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).

HZO can cause keratitis or inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye. If not treated immediately, shingles in the eye area can cause vision problems and even blindness.

3. Encephalitis

Even though it is rare, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) is one of the complications that can occur in people with shingles. Brain inflammation can occur when the varicella zoster virus attacks the central nervous system.

Inflammation of the brain can cause initial symptoms in the form of fever, headache, joint pain, muscle weakness, nausea and neck stiffness. Furthermore, continued inflammation in the brain will cause changes in behavior, confusion, difficulty speaking, memory loss, decreased consciousness, and even seizures.

4. Ramsay Hunt syndrome

One of the complications of shingles is paralysis on one side of the face, known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This condition can occur if the shingles virus infects and damages the nerves in the face and ears.

This condition can also damage the auditory nerve and balance, which can cause complications in the form of deafness, decreased ability to hear, and even balance disorders.

Knowing the symptoms, treatment and complications of shingles can help you stay alert to this infectious disease. One way to prevent chickenpox and herpes is vaccination. Discuss with your doctor to get an explanation regarding the benefits of the vaccine, dosage and administration schedule.

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