Coping with a Shingles Outbreak in Your Home

Although shingles is a quite a common illness, it can cause significant discomfort. Caused by a reactivation of the chicken pox virus (herpes zoster). Shingles typically affects one nerve root and appears on a localised area of the body. Fortunately, most cases of shingles resolve within 2-4 weeks and people don’t usually need inpatient care to resolve the condition. With these nine tips, you can manage a shingles outbreak at home and relieve the discomfort that’s associated with the virus:

Seek Medical Advice

Getting a formal diagnosis from your doctor will confirm that you’re suffering from shingles. Then enable you to obtain any prescription medication that’s required. As shingles affects nerve roots, it can cause a considerable amount of pain. Due to this, some patients are prescribed painkillers, such as tramadol or oxycodone. By seeking medical advice, you can find out which medicines are best suited to your needs and access a personalised care plan that takes any pre-existing conditions into account.

Consider Antiviral Medication

If shingles is diagnosed quickly enough, antiviral medicine can be a viable way to reduce the severity of the symptoms and/or the length of the outbreak. Although antiviral medicine doesn’t treat or eliminate the virus, it does prevent it from multiplying, which can enable you to recover more quickly.

In many cases, people don’t require antiviral medicine as their immune system is capable of fighting off the infection. However, if you have other underlying conditions or you are medically vulnerable, antiviral treatment may be an effective form of treatment.

Understand the Condition

Knowledge is power, so it’s well worth doing some research. With sites like Patient, you can learn more about the shingles virus and how to manage it. There you will find information on testing, treatments, vaccines and anything else you need to know. There are many misconceptions surrounding the condition and finding out exactly what shingles is, how it’s caused, and how long symptoms should last, will give you confidence in coping with an outbreak at home.

Don’t Pass It On

Although shingles isn’t contagious, it can prompt other people to develop chicken pox, if they haven’t had the virus in the past. This is because chicken pox and shingles are both triggered by the same virus. So, you won’t pass shingles on to someone else, but you could trigger a chicken pox infection in other people. This is particularly worrisome for people who are pregnant, immunocompromised and/or have existing health conditions, so be sure to limit your contact with people in these groups.

Prevent Secondary Infections

Shingles typically causes a rash and a band of blisters to appear on one section of the body. This most commonly occurs on the abdomen and on the sides of the body, but the face can be affected too. If

these blisters pop or weep, there is a risk that they could become infected and further complications could arise. To prevent this from happening, keep the blisters dressed when they are open and take care to keep the affected area clean and dry.

Wear Loose Clothing

Tight clothing can exacerbate the pain and discomfort caused by shingles, as it presses against inflamed skin. You can alleviate the symptoms by wearing loose-fitting clothing while your symptoms are present. In addition to this, choosing clothing made from natural materials, such as cotton, allows the skin to breathe and can also minimise discomfort during a shingles outbreak.

Use Over-the-Counter Painkillers

As the rash and blisters associated with shingles can cause pain and discomfort, over-the-counter painkillers can be a good way to manage your symptoms at home. Medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen are often recommended, although others are available. Remember – seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor before taking any new medication. While some painkillers can be taken in conjunction with one another, not all types of medicine should be used alongside each other.

Be Aware of Complications

Although complications arising from shingles are fairly unusual, it is important to be aware of them so you can seek additional treatment, if it’s required. When shingles affects the eye, for example, it can affect your vision. Alternatively, if the virus impacts a motor nerve, it could affect the functioning of related muscles and cause weakness.

Stay Hydrated

When you’re feeling unwell, you may not have much of an appetite or feel like drinking much water. However, eating nutritious foods can make you feel stronger, while staying hydrated can help to alleviate secondary symptoms. Sip water throughout the day and aim to eat light, healthy snacks regularly while you’re recovering.

Managing Shingles at Home

While shingles can certainly be uncomfortable, most people recover relatively quickly and experience no further complications. With the right intervention and plenty of rest, the vast majority of people can manage a shingles outbreak at home, minimise their symptoms and make a full recovery.

*This is a guest post