Shingles Complications
Shingles Complications
Shingles is associated with several potential complications that are far more likely to be experienced by persons who are elderly or have immune systems that have been weakened.
Complications can include:
- A rash that leads to the area becoming tender and red. This is typically treated using antibiotics in order to reduce the chance that the rash becomes infected with bacteria.
- Loss of pigment in the area in and around the rash
- Transverse myelitis, which is quite rare, consists of inflammation in the spinal cord. It can lead to pain within both the back and the neck
- Encephalitis, which is also rare, consists of inflammation in the brain. It can lead to elevated temperature and a feeling of disorientation
- Scarring
Complications of Ophthalmic Shingles
Ophthalmic shingles occurs when the shingles infection affects the trigeminal nerve that is responsible for controlling both the movement as well as sensation of the face. This can lead to complications that have very negative consequences on the eye and its function. These complications may include:
- scarring and/or sores on the corneal surface of the eye
- inflammation of the inner eye, known as uveitis. This can occur on either the ciliary body of the eye or in the iris
If ophthalmic shingles is not treated, it can lead to loss of vision.
Shingles
Postherpetic Neuralgia
The most commonly occurring shingles complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which affects between 1-2 people for every 10 persons infected with shingles. The older the individual, the more likely that he or she will develop postherpetic neuralgia as a complication to shingles. In fact, 1/3 of individuals over the age of 80 will develop the complication as a result of the infection.
Postherpetic neuralgia typically causes severe neuralgia or nerve pain that continues after the dissipation of the rash and other symptoms. If the patient is experiencing pain for upwards of three months, it is likely that the individual has postherpetic neuralgia.
Pain can be experienced in a number of different ways. These include:
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Aching, throbbing, or burning pain
- Hyperalgesia which causes increased sensitivity to pain
- Allodynia which causes a non-painful touch or other non-painful incident to feel painful
There are several different painkillers that may be used in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
This complication occurs if the shingles infection affects the nerves within the head. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is quite rare and affects approximately 5 out of 100,000 persons each year.
Symptoms of the syndrome include:
- Loss of hearing
- Dizziness
- Earache
- Rash around the area of the ear
- Taste loss
- Weakening or paralysis of the face
- Tinnitus, which consists of a noise or ringing that is heard either in the ear or in the head. The sound comes from within the head instead of from an outer source.
- Vertigo, a feeling that the environment or the body is spinning or moving when there is no actua movement occurring
This complication is typically treated using medications such as corticosteroids or antiviral medications. The sooner the treatment is begun, the more likely that the outcome will be favorable. In 3 out of every 4 cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, individuals who are given the antiviral medicine within three days of symptom onset will make a full recovery. If the treatment is not started during this time frame, only half of treated persons will completely recover.
Persons who have reached complete paralysis before the start of treatment and patients who are over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from permanent paralysis of the face. Another common (1 in 20) permanent side effect of Ramsay Hunt syndrome is varying degrees of hearing loss.
Peripheral Motor Neuropathy
Peripheral motor neuropathy, which is far more common in patients who are elderly, is a more common complication that has been shown to affect between 1-2 persons out of every 20 individuals diagnosed with shingles.
Neuropathy refers to damage to the nerves. Peripheral motor neuropathy consists of damage to the nerve that is responsible for movement or the peripheral motor nerve. This form of neuropathy will typically affect only one limb leading to paralysis in that leg or arm. Fortunately, a full recovery is usually possible for patients.
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