4. Presentation and Manifestation
a. Is is chronic or acute?
The disease can be divided into the pre-eruptive phase, acute eruptive phase and chronic phase - postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).(Source 1)
b. How easy is it to catch?
Shingles is contagious and can be spread from the person with the virus to anyone that hasn't had chicken pox before in their lives. Those infected will first develop chicken pox, then after they have had chicken pox, they are at risk for developing shingles later in life when the virus is reawakened. But once someone has shingles, they cannot contract the rash again. (Source 2)
c. What are the symptoms?
The obvious symptoms of Varicella Zoster are the rash and the itchy and painful skin. But in some cases, weeks before you get the virus, there will be pain under the skin where the rash will soon develop. The pain will begin the process, then leading to small bumps on red skin, soon after, forming into the full rash. (Source 2)
d. How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of VZV infection is usually based on clinical findings. However, in some situations, eg. immunocompromised patients, this can be difficult. In these patients, it is necessary to use laboratory exams to confirm the diagnosis. Another factor is the history of exposure to varicella or zoster in the past 3 weeks. (Source 3)
e. How does the pathogen interact with your body to cause the symptoms?
Varicella Zoster is the medical name for shingles. The virus that causes chicken pox (varicela virus) stays in the system residing near the spine. The virus can become activated by triggers. If the immune system is weakened, a number of stressors could be the trigger of an outbreak. Stress, illness, and age can be contributing factors in an outbreak.(Source 4)
5. Prevention and Cure
a. Is there a cure or vaccine in mainstream medicine?
Chickenpox vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox. Vaccination not only protects vaccinated persons, it also reduces the risk for exposure in the community for persons unable to be vaccinated because of illness or other conditions, including those who may be at greater risk for severe disease. If someone who had the vaccination still gets chickenpox, the symptoms will be much more mild. (Source 5)
b. What drugs/treatments are available?
The vaccination. Some patients are prescribed antidepressants that help with the pain of the disease. c. Is there any promise for a cure in current stem cell research? The closest thing to the cure for Varicella Zoster is the vaccine that is out in mainstream medicine. The VZV vaccine.
d. What are the alternative treatments to mainstream(i.e, allopathic or "Western")
There are no alternative treatments other than putting lotion on the rash and resting until the rash goes away. The vaccine is the best way to prevent contracting this virus.
a. What are the percentages of people affected with chickenpox and shingles?
This virus is very common. Up to 90 percent of people are attacked by this virus, about half of them between the ages of 5 and 9 years. Almost all of the cases of chickenpox are diagnosed in children and adolescents younger than 14 years. (Source 6)
b. Are there any lasting impacts on the body/immune system?
a frequent long-term effect is scarring of the skin. On occasion, the virus can leave behind short-term blotches on the skin that can take up to a year to disappear. Chickenpox can cause a bacterial skin infection and also, adults who contract chickenpox take a longer time to recover than children have a higher risk of contracting pneumonia.(Source 7)
Bibliography
Source 1: Draper, Richard. "Shingles." Patient.co.uk. EMIS, 03/16/10. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Shingles.htm>.
Source 2: Stoppler, MD. "Shingles (Herpes Zoster)."Medicinenet.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm>.
Source 3: Campos, Abelardo. "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)." . John Hopkins Medicine, n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic/ID/vzv/
Source 4: "Herpes Zoster Virus Hides in Spine, Shingles Symptoms and Treatment." Hub Pages. Hub Pages, n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://john000.hubpages.com/hub/Herpes-Zoster-Shingles-Symptoms-and-Treatment>.
Source 5: CDC.gov, . "Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccination."Vaccines and preventable diseases: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination. CDC, 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/default.htm>
.
Source 6:. "Herpes and Shingles: A Global Problem." Life extension. Life Extension, 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.lef.org/protocols/infections/herpes_shingles_01.htm>.
Source 7: Repsys, S.. "Long Term Effects of Chicken Pox." Long-term effects of chickenpox. eHow, 2012. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5509558_longterm-effects-chicken-pox.html>.
a. Is is chronic or acute?
The disease can be divided into the pre-eruptive phase, acute eruptive phase and chronic phase - postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).(Source 1)
b. How easy is it to catch?
Shingles is contagious and can be spread from the person with the virus to anyone that hasn't had chicken pox before in their lives. Those infected will first develop chicken pox, then after they have had chicken pox, they are at risk for developing shingles later in life when the virus is reawakened. But once someone has shingles, they cannot contract the rash again. (Source 2)
c. What are the symptoms?
The obvious symptoms of Varicella Zoster are the rash and the itchy and painful skin. But in some cases, weeks before you get the virus, there will be pain under the skin where the rash will soon develop. The pain will begin the process, then leading to small bumps on red skin, soon after, forming into the full rash. (Source 2)
d. How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of VZV infection is usually based on clinical findings. However, in some situations, eg. immunocompromised patients, this can be difficult. In these patients, it is necessary to use laboratory exams to confirm the diagnosis. Another factor is the history of exposure to varicella or zoster in the past 3 weeks. (Source 3)
e. How does the pathogen interact with your body to cause the symptoms?
Varicella Zoster is the medical name for shingles. The virus that causes chicken pox (varicela virus) stays in the system residing near the spine. The virus can become activated by triggers. If the immune system is weakened, a number of stressors could be the trigger of an outbreak. Stress, illness, and age can be contributing factors in an outbreak.(Source 4)
5. Prevention and Cure
a. Is there a cure or vaccine in mainstream medicine?
Chickenpox vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox. Vaccination not only protects vaccinated persons, it also reduces the risk for exposure in the community for persons unable to be vaccinated because of illness or other conditions, including those who may be at greater risk for severe disease. If someone who had the vaccination still gets chickenpox, the symptoms will be much more mild. (Source 5)
b. What drugs/treatments are available?
The vaccination. Some patients are prescribed antidepressants that help with the pain of the disease. c. Is there any promise for a cure in current stem cell research? The closest thing to the cure for Varicella Zoster is the vaccine that is out in mainstream medicine. The VZV vaccine.
d. What are the alternative treatments to mainstream(i.e, allopathic or "Western")
There are no alternative treatments other than putting lotion on the rash and resting until the rash goes away. The vaccine is the best way to prevent contracting this virus.
a. What are the percentages of people affected with chickenpox and shingles?
This virus is very common. Up to 90 percent of people are attacked by this virus, about half of them between the ages of 5 and 9 years. Almost all of the cases of chickenpox are diagnosed in children and adolescents younger than 14 years. (Source 6)
b. Are there any lasting impacts on the body/immune system?
a frequent long-term effect is scarring of the skin. On occasion, the virus can leave behind short-term blotches on the skin that can take up to a year to disappear. Chickenpox can cause a bacterial skin infection and also, adults who contract chickenpox take a longer time to recover than children have a higher risk of contracting pneumonia.(Source 7)
Bibliography
Source 1: Draper, Richard. "Shingles." Patient.co.uk. EMIS, 03/16/10. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Shingles.htm>.
Source 2: Stoppler, MD. "Shingles (Herpes Zoster)."Medicinenet.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm>.
Source 3: Campos, Abelardo. "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)." . John Hopkins Medicine, n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic/ID/vzv/
Source 4: "Herpes Zoster Virus Hides in Spine, Shingles Symptoms and Treatment." Hub Pages. Hub Pages, n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://john000.hubpages.com/hub/Herpes-Zoster-Shingles-Symptoms-and-Treatment>.
Source 5: CDC.gov, . "Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccination."Vaccines and preventable diseases: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination. CDC, 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/default.htm>
.
Source 6:. "Herpes and Shingles: A Global Problem." Life extension. Life Extension, 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.lef.org/protocols/infections/herpes_shingles_01.htm>.
Source 7: Repsys, S.. "Long Term Effects of Chicken Pox." Long-term effects of chickenpox. eHow, 2012. Web. 22 Mar 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5509558_longterm-effects-chicken-pox.html>.