Introduction
The skin of human beings is at higher risk of being infected compared to other parts of the body because it is exposed to the environment. Skin infections are caused by a bacteria or virus that enters the body from the surrounding. Some pathogens are found within the body, and this means that they can stay there for a long time before they affect a person (Flaherty and Resnick 2011). Older people are at higher risks of skin infections than children because of poor immunity and unhygienic conditions. This essay presents ways of diagnosing and treating shingles.
Definition
Shingles are skin inflammations caused by varicella zoster viruses that make the skin to have painful rashes (Tsutsumi 2013). They usually attack one side of the body and pathologists believe that people that have suffered from chickenpox have higher chances of developing this skin infection than those that have never been affected by it. A colony is a combination of various infections; for instance, a person can suffer from bumps, shingles and herpes at the same time (Burr 2012). An infection refers to the negative impacts of a bacteria or virus on the human body.
Diagnosing Shingles in Frail Elders
The elderly population is at higher risk of infections compared to other groups of people in the society. The process of diagnosing this infection starts with the history of a patient (Flaherty and Resnick 2011). This means that people that have suffered from chickenpox have high chances of developing shingles. Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster that remains in the human body, even after this condition has been managed (Burr 2012). However, it reappears as shingles after some years and the most common symptoms of this infection in frail adults include the following.
The first symptom of this disease is called post-herpetic neuralgia that is associated with the following issues. The patient feels pain and numbness in the affected area, and this is usually on one side of the body. Itching and tingling may occur, and these conditions can last for a long time. Dermatologists claim that victims usually have little appetite, sleepless nights and fatigue; moreover, they become very sensitive to touch and this may be painful when the condition advances (Tsutsumi 2013).
Secondly, rashes appear on the itching area, and after a few days they turn into clear blisters. These blisters last for two to three weeks before they turn red or yellow before they heal (Burr 2012). In addition, the pain, reduces when blisters heal, but this may take several weeks or months depending on the antibiotics used. These symptoms may be accompanied with fever, and that is why it is not easy to diagnose this infection. Therefore, patients should seek immediate medical attention whey they have any of these signs or symptoms (Flaherty and Resnick 2011).
Skin infections are not diagnosed easily because their symptoms are similar. Dermatologists usually scrape blisters and examine them under microscopes or send their fluids for laboratory tests (Tsutsumi 2013). This is the best way of confirming that a patient is suffering from shingles. In addition, people that have never been affected by chickenpox have limited chances of developing shingles.
Treatment and Dressing
Shingles causes a lot of discomfort, and it is necessary to ensure this condition is treated when the first symptoms appear. Antiviral drugs like Famvir, Zovirax and Valtrex are used to kill the virus that causes this infection (Burr 2012). These drugs should be used when the symptoms of shingles appear to reduce the duration and severity of rashes. This infection is very painful, and this means that inflammatory and narcotic medications should be used to alleviate this condition. Pain can be relieved by cooling the rash with ice cubes and applying calamine lotion on the blisters (Tsutsumi 2013). People aged 60 years and above are advised to be vaccinated to protect their bodies from this infection
The affected skin should be kept clean to protect the patient from other infections. The area should be washed with soap and clean water; moreover, cool anti-itching lotions may be applied on the affected region to reduce pain (Burr 2012). The blisters should be dried by applying aluminum acetate solution. The solution is used to stop oozing and protect the blisters from pathogens. The patient must ensure the rash is covered with loose clothes that do not stick to the skin. In addition, wearing loose clothes allows the blisters to dry and reduces the effects of bacteria on the injured tissues (Flaherty and Resnick 2011).
Factors that Contribute to the Development of Shingles
The virus that causes shingles remains dormant in some parts of the nervous system after a person recovers from chickenpox. This infection can be triggered by emotional stress that damages the nerve endings that are located close to the skin (Burr 2012). Lack of a strong immune system due to chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS infection can cause shingles. Moreover, previous chickenpox infections increase chances of developing this disease. Lastly, the chances of developing shingles increase when people grow older (60 years and above) (Flaherty and Resnick 2011).
Conclusion
Shingles is a common infection that affects people in modern society. The virus that causes it remains in the human body for long, and that is why it affects people during old age. Victims should seek medical attention when they suspect they have this infection; moreover, vaccines are important in controlling shingles. This infection should be treated early to protect victims from developing other health problems.
References
Burr, S. (2012). Identifying common lesions and rashes in the elderly. Nursing and Residential Care, 14(5), 239–242. Web.
Flaherty, E. and Resnick, B. (2011). Geriatric Nursing Review Syllabus: A Core Curriculum in Advanced Practice Geriatric Nursing. New York: American Geriatric Society.
Tsutsumi, Y. (2013). Pathology of Skin Infections (Dermatology-Laboratory and Clinical Research). New York: Nova Science Publishers.