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Am I Prone To HIV Inspite Of Contracting Shingles?
Question: I'm 54 years old and have contracted Shingles (and taking a course of Zovirax). I had Chicken Pox as a child. I read on the Internet that you get it if you have HIV - is it true? I have not been sexually active for many years and only had an encounter last August (2014) but insisted on a condom. Please inform me if I should get a HIV test and also the best recovery method for Shingles.
Brief Answer:
No need to test for HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I have taken note of your query and I have understood your concern.
Shingles Or Herpes Zoster is caused by the same virus which causes Chicken Pox i.e Varicella Zoster Virus.
In endemic areas, majority of population gets infected with this virus during childhood Or adolescence and most of these manifest it clinically as chicken pox.
Once acquired this virus stays inside dorsal spinal nerve root ganglion for life and years later e.g in middle age may reactivate locally as Herpes Zoster/ Shingles which usually manifests as painful, discrete, fluid filled vesicles, along distribution of dorsal spinal nerve i.e in a stripe like pattern on one side of the body.
This reactivation is partly due to dwindling immunity/ antibodies against this virus over years, which allows the virus to multiply locally.
Shingles is not a defining sign of HIV and therefore should not routinely be an indication for HIV testing, all by itself. I won't recommend it for you.
However, shingles is more common, more widespread/ extensive, severe and may be recurrent in HIV positive patients.
The medication that you are currently on is acyclovir, an antiviral. It is the right treatment for an episode of shingles.
Shingles is usually associated with pain, which may be of shooting or stabbing type.
This pain may last for weeks or months even after the lesions have resolve and is due to inflammation and scaring of cutaneous nerves.
I suggest that you take an OTC oral anti-inflammatory e.g ibuprofen, twice Or thrice daily for symptomatic relief from pain.
Topically you may use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily, till skin lesions heal completely.
Regards
No need to test for HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I have taken note of your query and I have understood your concern.
Shingles Or Herpes Zoster is caused by the same virus which causes Chicken Pox i.e Varicella Zoster Virus.
In endemic areas, majority of population gets infected with this virus during childhood Or adolescence and most of these manifest it clinically as chicken pox.
Once acquired this virus stays inside dorsal spinal nerve root ganglion for life and years later e.g in middle age may reactivate locally as Herpes Zoster/ Shingles which usually manifests as painful, discrete, fluid filled vesicles, along distribution of dorsal spinal nerve i.e in a stripe like pattern on one side of the body.
This reactivation is partly due to dwindling immunity/ antibodies against this virus over years, which allows the virus to multiply locally.
Shingles is not a defining sign of HIV and therefore should not routinely be an indication for HIV testing, all by itself. I won't recommend it for you.
However, shingles is more common, more widespread/ extensive, severe and may be recurrent in HIV positive patients.
The medication that you are currently on is acyclovir, an antiviral. It is the right treatment for an episode of shingles.
Shingles is usually associated with pain, which may be of shooting or stabbing type.
This pain may last for weeks or months even after the lesions have resolve and is due to inflammation and scaring of cutaneous nerves.
I suggest that you take an OTC oral anti-inflammatory e.g ibuprofen, twice Or thrice daily for symptomatic relief from pain.
Topically you may use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily, till skin lesions heal completely.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Will I get nerve/neuralpain?
Brief Answer:
Local neurological symptoms like pain, burning sensations etc are common
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Shingles is usually accompanied or followed by local neurological symptoms like burning sensation, shooting or stabbing or constant aching type of pain, heaviness etc
The severity of these symptoms may vary between individuals.
Also early the antiviral therapy is started lesser the severity and duration of these symptoms.
Regards
Local neurological symptoms like pain, burning sensations etc are common
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Shingles is usually accompanied or followed by local neurological symptoms like burning sensation, shooting or stabbing or constant aching type of pain, heaviness etc
The severity of these symptoms may vary between individuals.
Also early the antiviral therapy is started lesser the severity and duration of these symptoms.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Will I have scars - is there treatment for scaring?
Brief Answer:
Scaring is not very common; postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is common
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
There might be some atrophic scaring particularly if the clinical episode is a severe one, however, scaring is not a common complication of shingles that is adequately and promptly treated with oral antivirals.
Post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a more common complication in shingles.
However, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation usually fades away/ resolves with time.
Regards
Scaring is not very common; postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is common
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
There might be some atrophic scaring particularly if the clinical episode is a severe one, however, scaring is not a common complication of shingles that is adequately and promptly treated with oral antivirals.
Post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a more common complication in shingles.
However, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation usually fades away/ resolves with time.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do I need to get the Zoaster (Shingles) vacine to prevent catching it again?
Brief Answer:
No vaccination required
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Your body would have already mount an immune response against virus due to this particular episode and will be already having circulating antibodies against the virus.
These antibodies would protect you from happening it again anytime soon.
There is no need for a vaccine in a healthy immunocompetent person.
Regards
No vaccination required
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Your body would have already mount an immune response against virus due to this particular episode and will be already having circulating antibodies against the virus.
These antibodies would protect you from happening it again anytime soon.
There is no need for a vaccine in a healthy immunocompetent person.
Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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