Shingles

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Once this virus enters the body and you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve ganglia and the spinal cord. In some people, the virus stays dormant forever. In others, the virus may reactivate, usually by a weakening immune system. The varicella-zoster infection spreads to skin nerves ends and causes shingles.

Shingles can onset anywhere on the body, but usually occur on the skin of the abdomen, underneath the ribs, the inside of the mouth, and the vaginal tissues. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles, and it is possible to get it more than once. Shingles need a few weeks to achieve their cycle but in severe cases may last longer.

A bed or pressure sore is a deep ulcer caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. This often occurs when a person lies in bed or sits in a chair for a long time restricting circulation. This has as result the cell destruction in the underlying tissue, the breaking down of the skin, and the formation of an open ulcer.

Bedsores are most often found on skin that covers bony areas, such as the heels, ankles, buttocks, hips, sacrum, tailbone, and in every place that the skin can be folded over itself.

Bedsores can develop quickly. Their treatment may be from easy to very hard. For this reason, it is important to inspect daily the skin of the patient in order to prevent them.

The most vulnerable to develop pressure sores are people who stay for a long time in bed or in a wheelchair.