Can shingles lead to other illnesses?

Can shingles lead to other illnesses?

Depending on which nerves are affected, shingles can cause an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems. Skin infections. If shingles blisters aren’t properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.

What sickness does varicella-zoster virus cause?

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It can cause an itchy, blister-like rash. The rash first appears on the chest, back, and face, and then spreads over the entire body, causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters.

Can chickenpox cause permanent damage or lifelong problems?

Recovering from chickenpox doesn’t mean the virus is gone or that the patient is immune from later serious health problems.

Can shingles get into your brain?

In rare cases, shingles can spread into the brain or spinal cord and cause serious complications such as stroke or meningitis (an infection of the membranes outside the brain and spinal cord).

Can shingles have long term side effects?

The most common complication of shingles is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). “Five years later, I still take prescription medication for pain. My shingles rash quickly developed into open, oozing sores that in only a few days required me to be hospitalized.

What are lasting effects of shingles?

Overview. Postherpetic neuralgia (post-hur-PET-ik noo-RAL-juh) is the most common complication of shingles. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin, causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear.

What body system does varicella affect?

Sometimes chickenpox can be more severe, with internal organs like the lungs and liver affected.

Can chickenpox cause autoimmune disease?

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare complication of varicella and only few cases are reported[2–5]. Overall the incidence of AIHA in children is as low as 0.2/100,000 population[3]. We report AIHA due to chickenpox in a child who responded to steroids.

Does chickenpox virus stay in your system forever?

After a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains in the body permanently, but silently. About one-third of all people who have been infected with chickenpox later develop the disease known as herpes zoster, or shingles. Symptoms of shingles are pain, itching, blisters, and loss of feeling along a nerve.

Can shingles affect your organs?

Body systems that can be affected include the eyes, nervous system, lungs, liver, and brain. Internal shingles can cause symptoms such as persistent pain, fever, cough, abdominal pain, and headache. When shingles affects internal organs, it’s a serious complication that requires urgent medical attention.

Can chickenpox affect the brain?

Brain infection or inflammation occurs in only about 1 to 2 out of 1,000 cases of chickenpox. It can cause unsteadiness while walking, a headache, dizziness, confusion, and even seizures. In adults, this complication can be life-threatening.

What are the long term effects of chickenpox?

Infection of the lungs (pneumonia) Infection or swelling of the brain (encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia) Bleeding problems (hemorrhagic complications) Bloodstream infections (sepsis)

Can chickenpox cause lupus?

Brief Summary: Individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) appear to be at increased risk for the development of shingles, a painful reactivation of the varicella zoster virus that causes chicken pox….Zostavax in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Actual Primary Completion Date : July 2012
Actual Study Completion Date : October 2012

Can shingles affect your internal organs?

Can shingles have long term effects?

  • August 14, 2022