Has Someone Ever Had Internal Shingles Without Having An Outward Rash?

Shingles is a viral nerve infection that causes a painful rash and blistering, often appearing without a rash. In some cases, the infection can spread to internal organs and appear without a rash, known as internal shingles. Shingles usually clears up in 2-4 weeks, but postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common complication of shingles.

Zoster sine herpete (ZSH), or internal shingles, is a rare form of shingles without a rash. This condition is often misdiagnosed due to the absence of skin rashes in the typical form of shingles. However, it is possible to experience symptoms of shingles without a rash, known as zoster sine herpete.

In the past, internal shingles did not include skin rashes, making it difficult to diagnose. However, it is rare and can lead to complications that could affect the eyes, nervous system, and brain.

In the largest study of virologically confirmed cases of VZV vasculopathy, more than one-third of patients did not have a rash. While shingles infection without a rash is less common, it is possible. In some cases, the infection can affect the body’s internal organs, such as the chest and tummy, but it can also appear anywhere on the body.

In summary, shingles is a viral nerve infection that can cause pain and blistering, but it can also appear without a rash. The diagnosis and treatment of internal shingles are crucial for managing the condition and preventing complications.

What are the odd symptoms of shingles?

An outbreak of shingles can be prevented by taking antiviral drugs in the early stages, avoiding the rash on the face, preventing the spread of bacteria, allowing the rash to last longer than 10 days without improvement, reducing pain, and avoiding contact with a weakened immune system. However, shingles can also cause strange symptoms such as vertigo, buzzing in the ears, sudden weakness, double vision, face droop, or confusion. Antibiotics can help halt the spread of the bacterial infection, but not the shingles itself.

Can shingles be internal without a rash?

Shingles, a painful rash and blistering infection, can manifest in the absence of a rash, a condition known as “internal shingles.” This form of the disease can disseminate to vital organs and precipitate life-threatening complications. The symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, headache, and swelling of lymph nodes. There is currently no cure for shingles; however, the administration of antiviral medications within 72 hours can reduce the severity of the disease and shorten the duration of symptoms.

What are enteric shingles?

Enteric zoster is a shingles-like condition that occurs along the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Traditionally, the varicella zoster virus (VZV) only reactivates in sensory nerve cells on the dorsal roots of spinal and cranial nerves. However, neurobiologist Michael Gershon and pediatrician Anne Gershon have discovered that the virus can also become latent in autonomic nerves and the enteric nervous system. When the virus reactivates in neurons projecting to the skin, it produces a rash, but if it reactivates in enteric neurons, it can cause a painful gastrointestinal disorder.

How can you tell if you have internal shingles?

Internal shingles, also referred to as zoster sine herpete, can manifest as a range of symptoms, including muscle aches, numbness, tingling, stomach pain, facial palsy, hearing problems, and headaches. Medical practitioners diagnose and prescribe medications, while specialists may be required for complications. Additionally, a form of shingles that is not accompanied by a visible rash may also be experienced.

What are the symptoms of shingles in the head?

Shingles, a viral infection caused by the same virus as chickenpox, can cause burning pain, tingling sensations, numbness, severe itching or aching, persistent fatigue, fever, and headache. The virus can travel along the trigeminal nerve, causing shingles symptoms. The shingles rashes typically develop on the torso or chest, but can also appear on the face and scalp. Prompt medical care is advised for this condition, which can be caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

How can you tell if you have shingles internally?

Internal shingles, also referred to as zoster sine herpete, can manifest as a range of symptoms, including muscle aches, numbness, tingling, stomach pain, facial palsy, hearing problems, and headaches. Medical practitioners diagnose and prescribe medications, while specialists may be required for complications. Additionally, a form of shingles that is not accompanied by a visible rash may also be experienced.

What can be mistaken for shingles?

Shingles rash, often mistaken for other skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and hives, is more likely to be caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. The CDC estimates that 1 in 3 people in the United States will get shingles in their lifetime. The risk increases as you age, but anyone can get it if they had chickenpox. About half of all shingles cases occur in adults aged 60 or older, and the risk becomes much greater by age 70, according to the National Institute on Aging. The risk of getting shingles increases as you age.

Does shingles always have an external rash?

Shingles is a condition characterized by intense pain or tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, followed by a red rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. It can be mistaken for heart, lungs, or kidney problems, and some people experience shingles pain without developing the rash. The shingles rash typically develops as a stripe of blisters around the left or right side of the torso, sometimes around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.

What feels like shingles but is not?

Shingles rash symptoms can be a result of various conditions, such as cellulitis, herpes simplex, impetigo, folliculitis, contact dermatitis, and oral thrush. Chickenpox, also caused by the varicella zoster virus, can also resemble shingles. The first symptoms include pain, tingling, itching, and a rash. The rash forms a band around one side, eventually forming blisters that usually heal within 2-4 weeks. Some people may experience ongoing pain.

How do I know if I have internal shingles?

Internal shingles, also referred to as zoster sine herpete, can manifest as a range of symptoms, including muscle aches, numbness, tingling, stomach pain, facial palsy, hearing problems, and headaches. Medical practitioners diagnose and prescribe medications, while specialists may be required for complications. Additionally, a form of shingles that is not accompanied by a visible rash may also be experienced.

Can you get shingles in your digestive system?

Shingles are a type of skin disease characterized by specific symptoms and complications. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which affects the eye, can cause ocular pain, redness, and permanent vision loss. Herpes zoster oticus (HZO), also known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, affects facial nerves near the ear, causing ear pain, altered hearing, facial paralysis, tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. Enteric shingles occur internally along the digestive track, affecting the esophagus, stomach, and large and small intestines.

It causes unexplained and chronic abdominal pain and has been found in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn disease. Early warning signs of shingles may include taste or hearing changes, severe headaches, sensory loss, muscle weakness, and bladder or bowel dysfunction, which may signify encephalitis, meningitis, or myelitis. Patients with shingles should seek immediate care from their healthcare provider and start anti-viral therapy. They should also cover blisters, erosions, or open skin to limit the spread of the virus.