Shingles in Seniors: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Shingles is a painful viral infection that can affect any body part. The varicella-zoster virus causes it. It presents as vesicles or blisters on the left or right side of the body and leads to painful ulcers. Older individuals develop some complications from shingles due to a weak immune system. It is treated with medications and vaccination.  

Why do shingles occur:

Shingles occur due to latent viral infection of the varicella-zoster virus. Varicella zoster causes chickenpox and remains dormant in the body for many years. In old age, when the immune system gets compromised, shingles develop. Reactivation and the multiplication of the virus along the nerve pathways transfer the virus to the skin, causing shingles. Age greater than 60, previous cancer treatments, diseases that affect the immune system, transplant rejections, and stressful life events can further compromise immunity, leading to shingles development.  

Shingles symptoms:

Shingles symptoms are seen on one side of the body and occur more than once in a lifetime. Shingles symptoms last for 2-6 weeks. Painful blistering rash is one of the characteristic features of shingles. The symptoms include:

• Pain that varies in intensity, such as a burning or tingling sensation on one side of the body, may mimic pain originating from internal organs.  
• Severe sensitivity to touch and light
• Pain followed by a red rash  
• Fluid-filled vesicles or blisters present as a stripe on the left or right side of the body that break open and form crust. The rash can also occur around the eye, neck, or face.  
• Itching in the area of the rash
• Fever
• Body pains and Headache
• Weakness, Fatigue, and depression due to pain

The symptoms can lead to certain life-threatening complications, such as:

• Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN): PHN is long-term and exaggerated nerve pain caused by nerve fiber damage after the blisters have subsided.  
• Ophthalmic shingles: Shingles can affect single or both eyes, causing vision loss due to scarring.
• Cardiac complications: Heart issues may develop a complication after a year of shingles.  
• Neurologic complications: Some neurological complications include facial paralysis, brain inflammation, hearing and balance issues. Shingles affect the brain's blood vessels, leading to inflammation and dementia.  
• Skin infections: Inappropriately treated skin blisters lead to bacterial skin infections.  
• Inflammation: Shingle also affects the internal organs like the lungs, liver, brain, spinal cord, and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.

Shingles treatment:

After diagnosis of shingles by physical examination, shingles are treated to prevent complications and reduce the symptoms.  

• Shingles cannot be cured entirely, but medication is prescribed to control the symptoms, speed up the healing, and prevent complications.  
• Antiviral medications  
• Painkillers  
• Anticonvulsants and Tricyclic antidepressants are sometimes prescribed if other treatments are ineffective.  

Shingles Treatment and care at home:

Symptoms are managed at home by the following:

• Wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothes  
• Avoid scratches by covering the rashes  
• Cool sponging to the blisters  
• Hydrate well and have well-balanced meals.  

Shingles is a painful viral infection of the skin that affects the elderly. It cannot be cured, but it can be treated with antivirals and painkillers.