DIAGNOSIS
The appearance of the lesions of shingles is very typical that the clinician can diagnose it at first sight. However, the following data serve its importance in arriving at the correct diagnosis.
- History of the patient
- Exposure to persons who have chickenpox
- Past medical history: Important in assessing for the presence of comorbidities
- Patient’s age when he/she had chickenpox
- Presence or absence of cloudy discharge in the ears
- Some clinicians do aspiration of the fluid from the blisters and is sent to the
- laboratory for examination
TREATMENT
Household treatment remedy includes:
- Use of mild, antiseptic soap to clean the area of the lesion.
- Application of ice or a cold towel onto the area of the blister
- Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol.
- In cases of incomplete closure of the eyelid due to facial nerve dysfunction, placing an ear patch over the affected eye, keeping it lubricated with artificial tears.
In-hospital treatment setting includes:
- Drugs that have an antiviral activity such as acyclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir.
- Steroids – Works synergistically with antiviral drugs to reduce the inflammation and pain, especially in the area supplied by the facial nerve.
- Drugs that control anxiety- they help reduce imbalance and controls dizziness.