Every week we ask a health question to a medical expert. This week: I have itchy blisters on my torso, what could that be? Dermatologist Patrick Kemperman: “Shingles is very contagious. Stay away from the wounds.”
What exactly is shingles?
Shingles is a skin condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It often starts with an itching 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, for example on the back or in the face. The blisters appear in groups and are on one side of your body. The medical name for shingles is herpes zoster.”
Herpes? Isn’t that a sexually transmitted disease?
“There are different types of herpes viruses. The best known are cold sores and genital herpes. But herpes zoster is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that also causes chickenpox in children. If the chickenpox disappears, the virus can lie dormant for years in until, sometimes decades later, it becomes active and manifests as shingles.”
“Yes. Shingles is very contagious. By contact with the fluid from the blisters, someone who has not yet had chickenpox can 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 its own. After about ten days, the blisters dry up and become crusts.
“In principle, it will go away on its own. After about ten days, the blisters dry up and become scabs. These disappear over time. Sometimes people still suffer from itching and pain afterwards. That is nerve pain: the virus enters the nerve endings sit and they fire an itch or pain signal to the brain. That can be really maddening.”
Is there anything to do about it?
Shingles heals spontaneously. If necessary, the 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 painkillers or a relief cream.”
Shingles usually occurs in the elderly or people with low resistance.
“In case of shingles on the face and in people with a disorder of the immune system, the condition is often treated with antiviral drugs. In case of eye infections, it is advisable to seek advice from the ophthalmologist.”
Shingles usually occurs in the elderly or people with a lower resistance. Figures from the RIVM show that in 2015 about five in a thousand Dutch people went to the doctor because of shingles. Some become so ill that they end up in hospital. Annually there are about 375 in the Netherlands, mostly people aged fifty or older.”
“There are indeed vaccines that reduce or even prevent the risk of getting shingles. You can opt for it from the age of fifty. It has advantages and disadvantages: with vaccination, the complaints can be less severe and the risk of long-term pain is significantly less But they are not included in the National Immunization Program, so they are usually not reimbursed. Consult with your doctor or general practitioner or with a vaccination center whether the vaccine is suitable for you.
Patrick Kemperman is a dermatologist at Amsterdam UMC and Dijklander Hospital.
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