How Home Care Can Help A Senior With Shingles

It is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox and is most common in people over the age of 50. Shingles are typically treated with antiviral medications, but seniors who have shingles have reported that home care services can help them recover faster.

Shingles are known to have a high incidence among seniors. This is because the varicella-zoster virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes chickenpox. When someone has had chickenpox, the virus is dormant in their nerve roots. However, as we age, our immune system weakens and can no longer control the virus. The virus, therefore, becomes active.

The Pain of Shingles

One of the most common symptoms of shingles is pain. The characteristic band of blisters that make the condition easy to diagnose has the potential to cause extremely painful skin lesions. These lesions can range from mild discomfort to a burning sensation that is so severe that it interferes with the person’s ability to function.

Since shingles are caused by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox, it can be excruciating. Chickenpox is a relatively benign childhood disease. The pain associated with shingles is caused because the virus has traveled from the nerves in the spine to the skin. This means that the pain and discomfort caused by shingles can be much more severe than that associated with chickenpox.

Symptoms of Shingles

A shingles rash appears as fluid-filled blisters. These blisters may be accompanied by pain, itching, and tingling. The rash may be found on one side of your face, chest, back, or abdomen. The rash may also occur on the eye, mouth, or genitals. The rash may be itchy, painful, or cause a burning sensation.

Shingles can cause fever, chills, fatigue, and swollen glands. These symptoms can last for a few days after the rash appears.

Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a complication of shingles. PHN causes long-lasting nerve pain along the skin area that was affected by shingles. The pain of PHN can be severe and can interfere with your ability to function.

The most common areas affected by PHN are the face, chest, back, or abdomen.

Approximately 10 to 18% of people who have shingles experience PHN, and PHN risk increases with age. The pain of PHN can last from a few months to several years.