Category: 3. Shingles

Children with shingles symptoms should speak with a doctor as soon as possible. Some rashes in children look similar to shingles but may have a more severe cause that needs treatment. Some children may need antiviral medications for shingles. The medication works best when people take it within 3 days of the rash appearing. Outlook In most… Continue reading When to consult a doctor

Shingles most often affects people who have had chickenpox. The best way to prevent shingles is to have the chickenpox vaccine. To avoid spreading the virus to others, people with shingles can: avoid direct contact with others cover the rash try not to touch or scratch the rash clean their hands frequently Some individuals are more at… Continue reading Prevention

In most cases, children will recover from shingles completely. However, the condition can sometimes cause complications, which can include a bacterial infection in the rash blisters. It may also lead to postherpetic neuralgia, nerve pain that can last for after the rash disappears. Rarer complications include: facial paralysis meningitis eye problems pneumonia hearing problemsTrusted Source encephalitis, which… Continue reading Complications

A person cannot get shingles from someone who has shingles, but they can get chickenpox. Shingles usually only affects people who have had chickenpox in the past. In rare cases, shingles develops in children who have had the chickenpox vaccine. Doctors do not know what reactivates VZV, but some things make it more likely. Risk… Continue reading Risk factors

There is no cure for shingles, but not every child who develops shingles will need treatment. Antiviral drugs can reduce the time  it takes for the rash to disappear, although doctors do not usually prescribe them for healthy children. Doctors may recommend acyclovir tablets or an acyclovir drip for children who are immunocompromised. Over-the-counter pain medications can help ease… Continue reading Treatment

Doctors tend to diagnose shingles by looking at the rash. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source say it can be difficult to diagnose the condition in children. Healthcare professionals may recommend a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. To do the test, they may either rub a swab on the rash or take a saliva… Continue reading Diagnosis

Shingles tends to start with a tingling sensation, itching, or stabbing pain on the skin. Several days later, the person will develop a rash. This will usually start as a band or patch of raised dots. The rash can appear anywhere, but the most commonly affected areas are the face or the side of the torso. These… Continue reading Symptoms