Treatment of herpes zoster should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise avoid complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia - severe pain in the course of the affected nerve. Prescribed by a doctor in a timely manner antiviral drugs are an excellent prevention of complications.

Treating shingles with antiviral agents

The causative agent that causes shingles, a herpes virus type III - varicella zoster. This virus causes childhood chickenpox, followed by "hiding" in the nerve ganglia and lowered immunity causes shingles. Shingles most often occurs in the elderly. They also often develop complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia - the villas of pain along the nerve, which has changed under the influence of the herpes virus.

These pains are not associated with the ongoing effects of the herpes virus, and the consequences of such exposure. The only prevention of postherpetic neuralgia can only be assigned in a timely manner (within the first three days) antiviral therapy. The principal antiviral drugs, actively influencing varicella zoster virus are acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.

Acyclovir is the first antiviral agent exhibiting activity against herpes viruses. He is now widely used to treat herpes infections, including herpes zoster. However, the therapeutic effect of the drug is often inadequate to suppress the multiplication of the virus and its effect on nerve cells.

More modern antiviral drugs of this series are valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir (Famvir). These drugs are more actively suppress reproduction of the herpes virus. Famvir is particularly effective - it is a long time inside the nerve cells and protects them from damage by the herpes virus, reducing the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. Unfortunately, valacyclovir, and famciclovir - drugs are very expensive, which is why for the treatment of herpes zoster is often used cheap acyclovir Acyclovir - as it is safe? .

Antiviral drugs are prescribed during the time the emergence of new elements of the rash and a further two days after the onset of the last eruption. Assign also antiherpethetical specific immunoglobulins.

Other facilities for the treatment of herpes zoster

Shingles Ringworm - not only infectious disease   often causes severe pain along the affected nerve. To remove or at least reduce such pain used analgesics - NSAIDs - diclofenac, ibuprofen, Nise and so on. Reduce the pain will help the B vitamins - B1 and B12 injection.

If a viral infection joins bacterial and pustules appear on the skin, the mouth or by injection (depending on the patient) are assigned to antibiotics.

How to treat herpes zoster externally? Externally the skin in the affected area can be lubricated antiviral ointments and creams (eg, 5% acyclovir cream). For speedy bubbles prisyhaniya their cuticles aniline dyes (for example, 1% alcoholic solution of brilliant green), or 5% solution of potassium permanganate.

Treatment of herpes zoster folk remedies

Traditional medicine has a number of recipes for the treatment of herpes zoster. To suppress the virus multiplication are used:

• infusion of wormwood; 2 teaspoons dried chopped herbs pour 1, 5 cups of boiling water, insist hour, filter and drink half a cup three times a day;
• infusion of lemon balm; tablespoon dry chopped herbs pour two cups of boiling water, insist hour, strain and drink throughout the day;
• infusion of St. John's wort; tablespoon chopped dry grass pour 1, 5 cups of boiling water, insist hour, filter and drink a third cup three times a day for half an hour before meals;
• infusion of sage leaves Sage - cvyaschennaya grass   drug; tablespoon dry chopped herbs pour two cups of boiling water, insist hour, strain and drink throughout the day.

Outwardly with shingles is recommended:

• lubrication of affected skin with tincture of Melissa officinalis on alcohol (prepared from the rate of 1: 5);
• lubrication elements rash mixture of glycerol and sulfur (over the counter); a mixture prepared as follows: 2 parts glycerol is taken 1 of the sulfur;
• lubrication elements rash mixture of honey, garlic Garlic health: almost a panacea   ash and willow bark; three cloves of garlic, one tablespoon of ash formed by the combustion of willow bark, and 100 g of honey - all grind, mix and apply a thin layer to the affected skin.

When using folk remedies do not need to remember that they can be used only on prescription.

Galina Romanenko

Complications from chickenpox occur more frequently in adolescents and adults, and in children under one year of mothers who have not had chickenpox. To tend to the development of complications as people with reduced immunity. Nevertheless, it is impossible to eliminate the occurrence of complications and others of patients.

What are the complications of chickenpox gives

Chickenpox in children aged from two to twelve years, usually occurs quickly and without complications. Yet even in children this age sometimes gives chickenpox complications. After twelve years, the number and severity of complications are significantly increased.

Complications can be connected, as with the viral infection, and with secondary bacterial infection. In addition, after the skin is sometimes chickenpox scars - this is also a complication of chickenpox, since the ordinary course of its scar remains.

Complications from chickenpox associated with viral infection

Such complications include varicella characteristic lesions in the respiratory tract and particularly in the area of ​​the larynx, which may lead to the development of acute laryngitis Acute laryngitis when neck pain   and respiratory failure. This state has been called varicella croup.

When abundant vesicular rash in the lower respiratory tract can develop primary varicella pneumonia, which can be severe if the patient just is not necessary assistance. Viral infection can spread to other organs, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, joints, heart, and so on.

Viral central nervous system is also very dangerous, they can take the form of varicella meningitis, encephalitis, cerebellar, and nuclei of the cranial nerves. The patient in this case there are severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, impaired coordination of movement and consciousness. Sometimes organs are affected with the development of temporary blindness.

But these complications are usually reversible after chickenpox encephalitis rarely has serious consequences. Proper treatment of the nervous system can be restored within a few weeks.

If it affects the mucous membranes of the genitals vesicular rash can also occur complications. Such complications of chickenpox in men can lead to the emergence of first sharp pain of the glans penis and foreskin, and then to the development of scars that sometimes interfere with normal sexual life.

Complications from chickenpox associated with joining a secondary infection

Joining a secondary infection to the bubbly rash characteristic of chickenpox makes this rash pustular. After opening the pustules are formed on the skin ulcers. Finally, the point of attachment of a bacterial infection can develop deep purulent skin and soft tissue - abscesses and cellulitis. Ulcers after chickenpox can leave behind scars on the skin, including the face. The peculiarity of these scars is that they do not contain the skin pigment melanin, so, despite its small size, very visible on the skin, especially on the background of sun. After severe suppurative complications of the skin and mucous membranes are severe scarring.

Joining purulent infection can significantly complicate the condition of the mucous membranes with the development of erosive and ulcerative stomatitis Stomatitis - to breath fresh , Severe laryngitis and pneumonia. Joining bacterial infection to the vesicular rash on the mucous membranes of the genitals causes severe balanoposthitis in men and vulvovaginitis in women.

Finally, the accession of the bacterial infection can lead to inflammation of the lymph nodes - lymphadenitis. Lymph nodes after windmill can be increased at the expense of the viral infection, but in this case they are rarely painful. If you develop a bacterial lymphadenitis, lymph nodes increase in size, become painful, the skin over them red and swells. If time is not assigned to antibiotic therapy may lymph node abscess, in which will only surgical treatment. This lymph node Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   often subsequently loses its protective function, and lymphoid tissue is replaced by connective tissue.

Bacterial complications may also apply to the venous system in the form of superficial and deep thrombophlebitis. Such complications are more typical for adults with chickenpox, especially if they suffer impaired immunity.

Complications from chickenpox is also a decrease in immunity, characteristic of all herpes infections. After undergoing chickenpox children often suffer from colds, and adults often develop exacerbation of chronic infectious and inflammatory processes. Sometimes, due to lower immunity makes itself felt cytomegalovirus Cytomegalovirus - what is its danger?   After chickenpox - it is also one of the herpes infection, which is especially dangerous for pregnant women.

Chickenpox is to be treated under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise you may miss the complications and the patient does not provide timely assistance.

Galina Romanenko