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What Are Symptoms Of Shingles?

Posted on Sat, 2 Aug 2014

Question: Is there a prescription for suspected shingles (tingling on right back, migraines, stomach nausea, had same symptoms for the start-before blisters- of shingles 6 years ago) my Dr can call in since I am on vacation?
I uploaded a pic of my right back under & to the left of my armpit. There is nothing visible yet to prove shingles exist, however, the last time I waited until the rash appeared & was told by my PCP the fact I caught it early, the medication used cleared it before it became painful.

Answered by Dr. Ilyas Patel (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Relapse of HZ is unusual

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

As you had herpes zoster also called shingle 6 years back, it is very unusual to get it again after it has developed. Usually immunity against VZV virus develops after the first attack of herpes zoster. Only in those persons the relapse can occur, in whom the immunity is disturbed like HIV, blood cancer or malignancies.

I went through your picture, it does not show any abnormality.

So, first of all, consult your family doctor to rule out any immuno compromised condition. If everything is normal, the symptoms developed may be vague. There would be no chance to develop herpes zoster again in normal person.

You may take empirical treatment for relief of symptoms from your doctor... antiemetics, pain killers, anxiolytics..etc. Even you may take antivirals like acyclovir 400 mg thrice a day for two weeks without the need to confirm that its shingles.

There is possibility of post herpetic neuralgia, if the the herpes zoster occured at same site in past and if steroids not taken during the attack. If post herpetic neuralgia is there, you might have to take treatment for longer duration like.. Pregabaline or gabapantine with vitamin B12. Anxiolytics like fluoxetin 10 mg for few weeks would be helpful.

Hope this answers your query. If any further questions, will be happy to help you.

Thanks.

Dr. Ilyas Patel MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Ilyas Patel (5 hours later)

would malignancies that spread (but were removed a year ago) from 7 out of 58 lymph nodes removed from my thyroid be a complication?

Answered by Dr. Ilyas Patel (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HZ may relapse in immunocompromised status.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back.

Thanks for giving information about malignancies. Probably your immunological status may be deprived due to malignancy and its metastases to LN. In such condition, you may have relapse of HZ. After consulting dermatologist, you may start to take antiviral acyclovir 800 mg thrice a day for few weeks along with antiinflammatory and analgesic drugs. A short course of steroid may be taken to prevent PHN.

I would like to suggest to avoid stress and anxiety related to HZ. You consult dermatologist and have proper diagnosis and have prescription of drugs. And you take it as he suggests. I think your problem would be solved. I hope you got my answer.

Wishing you early recovery.

Thanks.

Dr. Ilyas Patel MD

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T