respond to ONE classmate’s discussion post with something you learned, or though

respond to ONE classmate’s discussion post with
something you learned, or thought was interesting. If you happen to find something that
your classmate forgot/left out, then you’ll receive an extra .05 points for to your score.
However, if your classmate left something out of their post and you do not catch it, you
will lose
classmate discussion:
Disease/Disorder: Shingles
Description
Shingles is a painful skin rash brought on by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox and is often referred to as herpes zoster or zoster. The chickenpox virus does not reactivate once a person has recovered. The virus typically has no additional effects, but it might resurface years later and result in shingles. For shingles prevention, a vaccination is available (Department of Health, 2023).
Method/Mode of Transmission
To get shingles, a person needs to have had chickenpox in the past. One cannot catch shingles from someone who already has them. A person with active shingles can transmit the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox or received the chickenpox vaccination. Instead of shingles, chickenpox would appear on the person who was exposed to the virus. When the rash is at the blister phase, a person with shingles might pass the virus to others. There are viral particles in the blister fluid. Direct contact with the rash or inhaling airborne virus particles are the two main ways the virus is disseminated (Department of Health, 2023).
Signs and Symptoms
Be on the lookout for rashes that occur in a single stripe on either the left or right side of the body. The rash initially appears as vesicles, which scab after seven to ten days. Symptoms may include pain, burning or tingling, sensitivity to touch, and a red rash that begins a few days after the pain fluid-filled blisters that break open. Some people also experience fever, headache, sensitivity to light, and fatigue (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2022).
How it gets diagnosed
Doctors will identify shingles based on your history of pain on one side of your body, as well as the characteristic rash and blisters. They might also collect a culture or tissue sample from the blisters to send to the lab (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2022).
Treatment and/or types of medications used to treat
Early antiviral medication therapy may reduce the risk of problems. These drugs include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. It is important to take them as soon as the rash appears to decrease the severity of the illness. Since shingles can cause severe pain, the healthcare provider might also prescribe numbing agents, such as lidocaine, in the form of a cream, gel, spray, or skin patch (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2022).
Prognosis
Having varicella increases a person’s immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and lowers the likelihood of VZV reactivation. Children who received the varicella vaccine, whether healthy or immunocompromised, have lower herpes zoster rates than children who contracted varicella naturally. There is a vaccine for chickenpox, and it is believed that those who receive it would have a lower risk of developing shingles in the future. If the rash is covered, there is little chance of the shingles virus spreading. To stop the spread of shingles, those with the rash should keep it covered, not touch or itch it, and frequently wash their hands (Department of Health, 2023).
Reference:
Department of Health. (2023, January). Shingles (herpes zoster). New York State Department of Health. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/shingles/fact_sheet.htm#Links to an external site.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, August 20). Shingles. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353060Links to an external site.