Shingles, also known as night burn, is observed with pain, redness and water-filled blisters along a nerve trace on the skin. It is a characteristic skin disease. Although the disease can be seen in the pediatric age group, it is often seen in the advanced age.
The causative agent of shingles is Varicella Zoster. After chickenpox, shingles is seen with the activation of this virus, which remains latent in the dorsal root ganglia of the dorsal nerves. The suppression of the immune system (diseases-drugs) and stress play an important role in the occurrence of the disease. The diagnosis of the disease is made clinically.
Shingles can be contagious by contact with the patient's lesion in people who have not had chickenpox. When it is transmitted, the observed disease is in the form of chickenpox.
In the treatment of shingles, anti-viral treatment specific to the disease, B vitamins, pain relievers and wound healing dressings and creams are recommended. In case of eye and ear involvement of shingles, it should also be followed by the Eye Department and Ear-Nose-Throat Department. The most common complication observed after the disease is severe pain in the area of shingles involvement, which is defined as postherpetic neuralgia. It is appropriate for this patient group to be followed up with the Neurology Department.