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Suggest Treatment For Shingles Like Bumps On Body
Question: Hello, I am a 55 year old female with a history of shingles. 5 days ago I felt bumps on my necks under, above and around my ear. The bumps go up into my scalp a little bit. They are near my eye and mouth. They are now red, itchy, tingly, and feel burning on inside and I feel burning pain inside. I also have headache & feel like I have flu. Do I have shingles again? I had shingles about 20 years ago. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Yes , it could be shingles.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Health Care Magic. Thank you for posting your query.
I can understand your concern.
I went through the entire details of the post . It would have been great had I got a closer look at the lesions but from what you have written seems like Herpes Zoster or shingles.
Shingles very rarely but can recur.
1.Have they occurred on only the right side of the body or has it crossed the midline to the opposite side also? In shingles we get lesions on one side of the body .
2.Have you ever had any lymphoma or leukemia or stem cell transplant or any immunocompromised state? The purpose of me asking these is that Shingle recurrence is more in these population.
I would suggest you to get
1. Complete hemogram including hemoglobin, total count, differential count ,platelets, ESR
2. Serology test done for HIV 1 and 2
3. Apply aluminium acetate soaks . This will be helpful for soothing and cleansing.
4. I would start tablet Ibuprofen along with tablet ranitidine to reduce the pain.
5. I would also start antiviral drugs like Acyclovir or Famciclovir. Your doctor can guide you on the exact dosage.
Do not worry much. I would suggest you to visit a dermatologist. He/she can have a closer look at the lesion and correlate clinically.
Write back to us.
Have a nice day.
Regards.
Yes , it could be shingles.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Health Care Magic. Thank you for posting your query.
I can understand your concern.
I went through the entire details of the post . It would have been great had I got a closer look at the lesions but from what you have written seems like Herpes Zoster or shingles.
Shingles very rarely but can recur.
1.Have they occurred on only the right side of the body or has it crossed the midline to the opposite side also? In shingles we get lesions on one side of the body .
2.Have you ever had any lymphoma or leukemia or stem cell transplant or any immunocompromised state? The purpose of me asking these is that Shingle recurrence is more in these population.
I would suggest you to get
1. Complete hemogram including hemoglobin, total count, differential count ,platelets, ESR
2. Serology test done for HIV 1 and 2
3. Apply aluminium acetate soaks . This will be helpful for soothing and cleansing.
4. I would start tablet Ibuprofen along with tablet ranitidine to reduce the pain.
5. I would also start antiviral drugs like Acyclovir or Famciclovir. Your doctor can guide you on the exact dosage.
Do not worry much. I would suggest you to visit a dermatologist. He/she can have a closer look at the lesion and correlate clinically.
Write back to us.
Have a nice day.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you for your response Doctor. I have LewyBody dementia and my neurologist had me seeing a hematologist for one year, every 3 months. I had so e kind of immunoglobulin disorder that they ruled out multiple myeloma. The Lewy body has me worn down. With this medical history in mind, do you think it's possible to have shingles on both sides?
How contagious is it to two year old children and pregnant women?
Thank you.
How contagious is it to two year old children and pregnant women?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Yes, with a history of immunoglobulin disorder, this can be shingles.
Detailed Answer:
The immunoglobulin disorder is a kind of immunocompromised state that can predispose to recurrence of shingles .
Shingles does not occur on both sides. It occurs on one side of the body along a portion of the body called a dermatome.
And yes patients with Herpes Zoster /shingles can transmit infection to seronegative individuals (that is those who do not have adequate antibody against the virus) with consequent chicken pox. Yes, children and pregnant women are susceptible.
Avoid hugging and touching them.
Regards.
Yes, with a history of immunoglobulin disorder, this can be shingles.
Detailed Answer:
The immunoglobulin disorder is a kind of immunocompromised state that can predispose to recurrence of shingles .
Shingles does not occur on both sides. It occurs on one side of the body along a portion of the body called a dermatome.
And yes patients with Herpes Zoster /shingles can transmit infection to seronegative individuals (that is those who do not have adequate antibody against the virus) with consequent chicken pox. Yes, children and pregnant women are susceptible.
Avoid hugging and touching them.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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