Is herpes zoster the same as chickenpox?

Written by Yu Gang
Dermatology Department
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Typically, this virus causes chickenpox in children, but in adults, it manifests as herpes zoster, which is unrelated to chickenpox. The herpes zoster virus primarily attacks the nerves, causing neuralgia. Therefore, it is generally recommended to rest, consume a light diet, and avoid spicy foods, seafood, and rich foods. Treatment usually involves the use of acyclovir and valacyclovir for topical application. Oral nutritional supplements for the nerves, such as vitamin B1 and B12, and spleen peptides to enhance the body's immunity, are also recommended. It is important to rest and pay attention to these aspects. It is best to visit a local dermatologist for a proper diagnosis.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
1min 7sec home-news-image

How long does it take for shingles to heal?

The symptoms of shingles can generally be divided into two categories. The first involves blisters on the skin, typically unilateral, and the second is that these blisters are often accompanied by pain, which varies in intensity from person to person. Generally speaking, the older the individual, the more severe the pain may be. As for the duration until recovery from shingles, the skin symptoms usually heal within two to three weeks for young people, but for older adults, it generally takes about three to four weeks. If the rash leads to a secondary infection, the recovery may take even longer. This is the duration for the alleviation of skin symptoms. If the condition involves nerve pain, the recovery might take longer. For people over 50, the duration of nerve pain can be significantly longer, and some may experience postherpetic neuralgia, where the skin symptoms have disappeared, but the nerve pain persists, possibly lasting for months or even years.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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initial symptoms of herpes zoster

Shingles initially may manifest in some people with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, or poor appetite, followed by pain on the affected side, typically unilateral skin pain. The pain can be dull, but there may also be a burning sensation or stabbing pain, characteristic of unilateral neuralgia. However, some patients experience both rash and pain simultaneously. For those who experience pain before the rash appears, diagnosing shingles can be difficult early on, as the neuralgia is present without any rash. Generally, within a few days, usually no longer than a week, erythema can occur in the area of the neuralgia. Subsequently, numerous vesicles emerge on the erythema, often clustering in a band-like distribution and typically limited to one side of the body.

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Written by Yu Gang
Dermatology Department
55sec home-news-image

Is herpes zoster the same as chickenpox?

Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Typically, this virus causes chickenpox in children, but in adults, it manifests as herpes zoster, which is unrelated to chickenpox. The herpes zoster virus primarily attacks the nerves, causing neuralgia. Therefore, it is generally recommended to rest, consume a light diet, and avoid spicy foods, seafood, and rich foods. Treatment usually involves the use of acyclovir and valacyclovir for topical application. Oral nutritional supplements for the nerves, such as vitamin B1 and B12, and spleen peptides to enhance the body's immunity, are also recommended. It is important to rest and pay attention to these aspects. It is best to visit a local dermatologist for a proper diagnosis.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
33sec home-news-image

How is herpes zoster diagnosed?

The diagnosis of herpes zoster is primarily based on clinical symptoms. First, the skin lesions appear as clusters of vesicles, which are distributed in a band-like pattern along one side of peripheral nerves. Second, there is significant neuralgia accompanied by swelling of the local lymph nodes. Third, the skin in the middle is normal. If these three clinical symptoms are present, it can generally be confirmed as herpes zoster.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How is herpes zoster transmitted?

Shingles is caused by the activation of the varicella-zoster virus that lies dormant in the nerve roots, affecting both the skin and nerves. There are several ways shingles can spread, mainly through direct contact or droplet transmission. Direct contact transmission primarily occurs because the blister fluid in shingles blisters contains a high concentration of the virus. Therefore, before the blisters of a person with shingles are completely dry, they are somewhat contagious, primarily affecting those with lower resistance such as the elderly, children, women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and so on.