2023-11-22 02:47:36
[메디컬투데이=김준수 기자] Recently, the first snow of this winter has fallen across the country, and the cold continues. In winter, when the cold wind blows like these days, the body’s immunity can weaken as the temperature drops rapidly, so caution is needed. If your immune system is low, you are more likely to be exposed to various diseases, especially shingles.
Shingles is a disease that easily occurs when the immune system is low. This is a disease that occurs following the varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox in childhood, remains asymptomatic around the nerves, and then spreads out through the nerves when immunity to the varicella-zoster virus decreases.
It causes severe pain by causing rashes and blisters on the skin. It is called shingles because the blisters form on the skin in a band. In most cases, the pain is localized to one part of the body, and following 1 to 3 days of aching or tingling pain, a red rash appears.
In particular, you may develop a fever or headache, and feel muscle pain and fatigue in some parts of your body. A skin rash can cause pain even when just grazing the collar. You may also feel as if your skin is being pricked by a sharp needle or burning.
▲ Director Park Jae-hong (Photo = Provided by Kichan Pain Medicine Clinic)
The incidence of shingles is high in people in their 50s and 60s, who have relatively weaker physical strength compared to younger people and are vulnerable to the cold in winter. However, recently, the number of young shingles patients, such as those in their 30s and 40s, is increasing. This is caused by a weakening of the body’s immunity due to disease, accidents, stress, etc.
Jaehong Park, director of Kichan Pain Medicine Clinic in Seoul, said, “For shingles, it is best to administer antiviral medication within 72 hours following the rash appears on the skin. Even if symptoms appear, if you do not visit the hospital as soon as possible, you should be careful as the risk of secondary infection or recurrence of shingles increases. “Also, since blisters on the patient’s skin can burst and become contagious, it is safe to avoid direct contact with the patient and use towels separately,” he emphasized.
He continued, “It is important for shingles patients to manage their daily lifestyle habits. Since the focus should be on increasing immunity, one should refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol during the treatment period. “It is also helpful to manage stress and exercise regularly,” he advised.
[ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
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