Shingles, commonly known as "skin snakes," is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It not only causes blisters on the skin but also leads to severe nerve pain, which is the most feared symptom. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, one in three Taiwanese people may suffer from shingles at least once in their lifetime, especially those with weakened immune systems who are at higher risk. Doctors urge, "High-risk individuals should maintain a balanced intake of nutrients, adjust their lifestyle to boost immunity, and consult with doctors about vaccine information to ensure comprehensive prevention and avoid the severe effects of shingles."
Shingles is not just an elderly disease! Young patients with rheumatic and immune conditions should also be alert. If you had chickenpox in childhood, the virus might remain dormant in the nerve ganglia and could reactivate when immunity declines, spreading along the nerve ganglia and causing skin lesions and pain.
In the past, people often thought that shingles was a disease that only the elderly needed to worry about. However, patients in the rheumatology and immunology departments are also high-risk groups. Allergy and immunology rheumatologist doctors explain, "Patients with autoimmune diseases have immune systems that attack their organs, requiring long-term use of immunomodulatory drugs, which, like a double-edged sword, reduce the body's defense against the shingles virus." According to Chief Dr. Xiao’s clinical observations, young rheumatic and immune patients can also suffer from shingles.
Shingles can be controlled and recovered from. (Photo/Heho Health)
Pain often precedes lesions! This may be a sign of a "skin snake." Doctors share, "Sometimes, patients visit complaining of severe pain in a specific area, even when there is no rash on the skin, leading us to suspect shingles. Shingles pain differs from pain caused by rheumatic diseases, which are usually mild or manifest as joint or muscle soreness, whereas shingles pain is often very severe and disrupts daily life."
If treatment is sought early, the severity of the disease can be reduced. However, doctors emphasize that patients in rheumatology and immunology departments need stable control of autoimmune diseases; otherwise, shingles flare-ups could be more severe than usual if the patient’s condition is poor.
There is a common saying that if the "skin snake" circles the body, it can be fatal, causing fear among many. Doctors analyze, "Shingles mostly affects one side of the body, but if the patient’s immunity is low, shingles may spread across nerve ganglia, affecting both sides of the trunk and even encircling the body. With today’s antiviral drugs, the risk of fatality is very low."
Shingles, commonly known as "skin snake," is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. (Photo/Heho Health)
Shingles can cause severe complications, including potential eye damage such as keratitis if the virus invades the eyes, which can seriously impair vision. The real problem for patients is that even after skin lesions heal, nerve pain may persist for weeks or months, and the skin may be left with permanent scars.
