What are the symptoms of shingles?
Herpes zoster is an acute infectious skin disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people and people with low immunity. Recently, the topic of shingles has been widely discussed on social media and health forums, especially with a significant increase in attention to its symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Below are the typical symptoms and structured data of shingles.
1. Common symptoms of herpes zoster
The symptoms of herpes zoster are usually divided into prodromal stage and rash stage. The specific manifestations are as follows:
| stage | Symptoms | duration |
|---|---|---|
| prodromal stage | Fever, fatigue, headache, skin tingling or burning sensation | 1-3 days |
| Rash stage | Clusters of blisters along nerves with severe pain | 2-4 weeks |
2. Typical characteristics of herpes zoster
Symptoms of herpes zoster have the following distinctive characteristics:
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| One-sided distribution | The rash usually appears on one side of the body, along the ganglia |
| The pain is obvious | The pain may be burning, stinging, or electric shock-like, and may last for months (post-herpetic neuralgia) |
| Blister changes | It initially appears as erythema, then develops into blisters, and eventually scabs fall off. |
3. Common areas where shingles occurs
Shingles can occur in any area of nerve distribution, but is more common in the following areas:
| parts | Proportion | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Chest and back | 50%-60% | Most commonly, along the intercostal nerves |
| Head and face | 10%-20% | Involvement of the trigeminal nerve may affect the eyes (ocular herpes zoster) |
| waist and abdomen | 15%-20% | Easily misdiagnosed as acute abdomen |
4. Symptoms of special types of herpes zoster
Some patients may present with atypical symptoms and require special attention:
| Type | Symptom characteristics | high risk groups |
|---|---|---|
| No rash type | Only pain without rash, easy to miss diagnosis | People with low immunity |
| disseminated | Generalized blisters with high fever and visceral involvement | AIDS or cancer patients |
| Recurrent type | Multiple attacks in the same area | Those who do not have standardized treatment |
5. Complications of Herpes Zoster
If left untreated, shingles can cause the following serious problems:
| Complications | incidence | Hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Postherpetic neuralgia | 10%-30% | Pain can last for months or even years |
| eye infection | About 50% of cases around the eyes | Can cause keratitis and vision loss |
| Facial paralysis | Ramsay Hunt syndrome | Ear herpes with ipsilateral facial paralysis |
6. When Do You Need Medical Treatment?
You should seek medical attention immediately if:
1. Rash appears on eyes, ears or face
2. Over 60 years old or with low immunity
3. Extensive rash or accompanied by high fever
4. The pain is unbearable or continues to worsen
Recent studies show that vaccination against shingles can reduce the risk of developing the disease by more than 90%. It is recommended that people over 50 years old consult their doctor about vaccination.
(Note: The data in this article are synthesized from the National Health Commission’s guidelines, the latest WHO report and clinical statistics from tertiary hospitals)
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