[Extracted from emedicinehealth's blog]
An acute infection caused by the herpes zoster virus, the same virus as causes chickenpox. Shingles is most common after the age of 50 and the risk rises with advancing age. Shingles occurs because of exposure to chickenpox or reactivation of the herpes zoster virus. The virus remains latent (dormant) in nerve roots for many years following chickenpox.
Shingles is an extraordinarily painful condition that involves inflammation of sensory nerves. It causes numbness, itching or pain followed by the appearance of clusters of littles blisters in a strip pattern on one side of the body. The pain can persist for weeks, months or years after the rash heals and is then known as post-herpetic neuralgia.
People with shingles are contagious to persons who have not had chickenpox and can catch chickenpox from close contact with a person who has shingles. Treatment includes antiviral medication and pain medication.
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The Chinese called this type of skin disease as 'Snake', as they believe this group of blister-like formation will move and attract each other to meet at a point. Many believe that once it meets, it means deadly or life threatening.
Some patients with such condition, often seek the assistance from an experienced Physician to 'locate' the eyes of the snake and then, prick them by using a heated-needles, or the tip of a lighted joss-stick. There will be a mini pop-sound signifying that the 'eyes of the snake' have been burst. Once the 'snake is blinded', it is believe the pain will subside and then, the whole patch will soon dry up and cured.
Believe it or not, its up to you !
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