What is Shingles, and How is it Treated?

Shingles disease is a viral infection re-activated from the same virus which causes chicken pox, varicella zoster virus, or VZV. It commonly occurs in those age 50 and older who have already recovered from the chicken pox once before. Shingles appears in the form of a painful, widespread skin rash that can appear along the chest, back, face, or scalp, often in  wrap- like band around the waist. The rash is made up of fluid-filled blister-like lesions, and can be extremely itchy as well as painful. Other symptoms can appear along with the rash, such as fever, chills, headache, and abdominal pain.  Although shingles can initially he hard to detect, the first signs include burning or tingling pain, along with numbness and itching, typically found in one spot on one side of the body.

It is believed that after one recovers from the chicken pox, what is left of the varicella zoster virus moves into the nervous system.  When it reactivates in the form of shingles, the virus then travels along the spine and nerve fibers and multiplies, which is what causes the rash and pain to appear along that area. Shingles can be mild with only just a bit of itching and tingling, or severe with the slightest touch causing severe and crippling pain. Sometimes immediate treatment can come in the form of antiviral drugs depending on how severe the illness is. For prevention, there is a vaccine available for seniors who think they may develop shingles.

Shingles is a potentially serious condition that may require medical treatment. Those without insurance should never avoid seeing a medical professional because they lack coverage, or their primary care physician is unavailable. KoolDocs.com has fully trained and licensed physicians online that can treat shingles affordably, and even provide patients a prescription online.

Typically, shingles poses little long-term threat to otherwise healthy individuals, and will often go away with medication within 3-5 weeks. After the intial outbreak of the blisters and lesions, they will begin to go away, heal, and with it, taking away the pain. The blisters rarely leave visible scarring. Shingles itself cannot be transferred from person to person, but the VZV virus causing it still can, which can cause an outbreak of chicken pox to someone who hasn't had it, such as a child. Shingles can be threatening to those with autoimmune disorders or weakened immune systems.

There are several prescription medications that doctors may opt to prescribe to treat and ease the symptoms of shingles. For inflammation relief, a class of corticosteroids may be prescribed; for pain relief, pain medication (non-narcotic), and then a general antiviral medication to treat the virus itself.  However, to get these medications requires a trip to the doctor, and that can be difficult due to circumstances such as work. Also, if you're already suffering the pain of shingles outbreak, you may find it too taxing and difficult to try and make an appointment with your general doctor, wait for hours in the lobby, and then go through an examination when you'd rather be resting. Consulting a reputable online doctor at KoolDocs.com can take the frustration out of getting a diagnosis and finding treatment. Simply sign up for a consult, and receive a call back within 1-3 hours, and then consult with a professional online doctor about your symptoms. You can receive a diagnosis as well as an online prescription instantly, and be on the road to recovery.

Get an Online Prescription from an Online Doctor at www.QuickRxRefills.com.

WARNING: Limitations of Online Doctor/Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions, QuickRxRefills cannot Prescribe, Dispense, or Resell any and all Narcotics/Controlled Substances (this policy is fully enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)) for Pain, Anxiety, Weightloss, Sleep, ADHD/ADD including non-controlled substances or any medications that are considered controversial or recalled in nature such (i.e. Retin-A, Accutane). Furthermore, QuickRxRefills is not a substitute for an office based physician in your location nor is it a substitute for Emergency Medical Care or 911. If you do experience a "true" medical emergency your are encouraged to pick up the phone and dial 911 as soon as possible.