(omni)science

Remember that South Park episode in which the mothers of the boys decide to send Stan, Kyle, and Cartman to Kenny’s house because he has chicken pox. Your science teachers probably said something to the effect of getting chicken pox early so that you didn’t get it later on in life. Well, they weren’t exactly telling you the truth. Chicken pox is caused by a Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), which gives you the well known symptoms but this virus is never removed from the body and usually becomes latent in your nerve cell bodies, where it can stay for years and decades, without causing any symptoms.  Under certain conditions, however, this virus can become ‘reactivated’ and cause Herpes Zoster, or more commonly known as Shingles.

That is the problem with viruses. Your body usually can not fully eliminate them and after causing the first infection they can stay in your body for long periods of time. As soon as these viruses see a window of opportunity they become active again. In case of VZV, it can become reactivated in immunocompromised people. Your immune system can be weak because of various things such as stress, aging, infection with HIV, and/or cancer.  So, if you see any of the symptoms below, make sure you immediately get an HIV test.

Shingles symptoms are considerably different from chicken pox. As opposed to growing all over the body, shingle rashes are typically localized to one side of the body. That is because, the second time around, the virus only affects along dermatomes, which are skin area supplied by single nerves. The rashes are often clustered, very painful, and itchy, alongwith sensitive skin. After a few days, these rashes become fluid filled and pop, after which they will crust over and heal.  The whole episode can last up to four weeks. During the last few stages, shingles is very contagious because of open skin and if somebody comes in contact with the area will develop chicken pox if they have not already had it, so try to stay away from kids. However, you can not directly acquire shingles by exposure. In fact, it was established that chicken pox and shingles are caused by the same virus because children living with shingles patients acquired chicken pox.

As far as treatment goes, antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, valcyclovir, and famcyclovir are usually given to curb the viral replication, further spread, and even the severity of rashes if prescribed on time. Pain medications like tylenol or codone may be prescribed alongside to deal with the enormous pain. FDA also just approved a VZV vaccination called Zostavax for people 60years and older who have had chicken pox.