Once infected, carry it for life! Over 90% of adults have this virus lurking in their bodies.

"Just bear with it" is the attitude of many elderly people towards pain. They are afraid of causing trouble to their children and spending money in hospitals.

However, there is a very common skin disease, which must not be tolerated. In addition to causing severe pain, it may also cause posthumous neuralgia. There are even rumors among the people that life will end when the waist is covered with a circle and the head and tail are connected.

This "terrible" skin disease, many people have heard its name-herpes zoster, commonly known as waist-wrapped snake, snake disc sore.

01

About herpes zoster, these four points should be known and benefited early.

When it comes to herpes zoster, people who have had it all turn pale, because it really hurts. How much does it hurt? China medical community divides pain into 10 grades, labor pains into 8 grades, and the pain of herpes zoster is the highest grade of 10.

Herpes zoster is an infectious skin disease caused by varicella-zoster virus. The nature of pain during the attack is varied, but it is usually hidden in the body and "waiting for opportunities". More than 90% of adults carry it, and the virus cannot be completely eliminated after infection.

It is precisely because of the universality of herpes zoster virus that we need to have a correct understanding of it and avoid falling into misunderstanding.

1. Will it hurt to get herpes zoster?

Although most infected people will experience intense pain after the onset, not everyone will feel this way. Some people may not feel obvious pain after infection, which is normal. Individual differences lead to different nerve repair ability of each person, so the degree of feeling will be different.

However, even if there is no pain, the patient cannot ignore the condition. For patients who have no obvious pain, they should still take the initiative to seek medical help to prevent further deterioration of their condition.

2. Only old people get this?

Herpes zoster is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, especially those over 50 years old are more likely to get sick and often show serious symptoms.

But it is not only the elderly who get it. Herpes zoster is characterized by decreased immunity. Herpes zoster virus has been lurking in the body. When the body’s resistance drops, whether it is due to fatigue, life pressure, infection or cold, the latent virus may be activated and proliferated rapidly.

In particular, many patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other people with low immune function, need to pay more attention to the risk of herpes zoster regardless of age.

3. I won’t get it again after I get it once?

Once infected, herpes zoster will be carried for life and may recur at any time. Herpes virus has a common feature, that is, it will lurk in the body after the first infection, and the virus in the body may be activated again under the influence of factors such as decreased immunity, aging, chronic disease or fatigue.

4. Is herpes zoster not contagious?

Although herpes zoster is not as contagious as chickenpox, herpes fluid is indeed contagious. Especially in the active stage of herpes zoster, patients may transmit the virus in the blister fluid to infants and adults who are not vaccinated around them.

Therefore, during the treatment, it is best for individuals with herpes zoster to keep a distance from infants and the elderly to reduce the risk of transmission.

02

How to treat quickly? Is the folk method good?

In terms of treatment, western medicine usually adopts antiviral drugs, hormones, B vitamins and analgesics as the main treatment methods, and the course of treatment is generally 3 ~ 6 weeks.

Traditional Chinese medicine has the advantage of shortening the course of treatment (usually 4 ~ 6 days). The treatment of traditional Chinese medicine has the advantages of excellent analgesic effect, rapid and reliable curative effect, and no adverse reactions.

Zhang Binghou, chief physician of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, said that neuralgia is the main symptom of herpes zoster. In the course of treatment, the treatment emphasis should be different according to the different stages of the disease. For example, in the early stage of rash, the treatment focuses on clearing heat and cooling blood; In the eruption period, the main focus is on promoting diuresis and dredging collaterals; In the stage of postherpetic neuralgia, the focus of treatment is on promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.

In addition to dialectical treatment, at the same time, targeted external treatment methods such as electroacupuncture, moxibustion, pricking blood therapy, fire needle and ear acupuncture can also reduce the occurrence of neuralgia after herpes zoster.

1. Electroacupuncture

Stimulating Jiaji point of local corresponding ganglion segment of herpes by electroacupuncture can reduce the signal conduction flux of neuropathic pain, thus effectively inhibiting pain.

2. moxibustion

The analgesic effect of moxibustion on herpes zoster and neuralgia after herpes zoster is related to the instantaneous receptor potential vanillic acid subtype 1, which can increase the thermal pain threshold of the body and produce obvious analgesic effect.

3. Pricking blood and cupping

Through the pressure of blood flow on blood vessels during pricking blood, it can promote the synthesis of nitric oxide, regulate leukocyte adhesion, inhibit inflammatory injury and relieve pain, and at the same time relax blood vessels and increase local blood supply.

Step 4 fire needle

After burning red at high temperature, the fire needle pierces the skin, inhibits T proinflammatory cytokines, reduces inflammatory reaction and protects local nerves and tissues.

5. Ear acupuncture

By stimulating the distribution area of vagus nerve in the concha, non-harmful vagus nerve stimulation is produced, and effective analgesic effect is achieved.

It must be noted that Chinese medicine treatment is not equal to folk prescription. Some traditional folk remedies, such as washing herbs and applying ink, have no scientific basis, and their therapeutic effects are of no practical use. On the contrary, these unscientific treatments can not only relieve the pain of patients, but also lead to skin inflammation, infection, ulceration and other complications, further aggravating the condition.

03

High incidence in winter, a preventive method is very effective.

In winter, due to the cold weather and reduced exercise, human immunity is generally reduced, which makes herpes zoster especially high.

In order to prevent herpes zoster, we can take the following measures:

Step 1 enhance physical fitness

One of the easiest ways to improve one’s disease resistance is to keep a good sleep. T cells play an important role in the fight against viruses, and lack of adequate sleep will lead to a decrease in the number of T cells, thus reducing the function of the immune system. At the same time, maintaining regular exercise habits also helps to enhance physical fitness.

It is also crucial to maintain a balanced nutrition. Increasing the intake of nutritious foods such as beans, fish and lean meat can effectively improve resistance.

2. Avoid contact with chickenpox patients

People who have never experienced varicella or been vaccinated with varicella vaccine, especially children and the elderly with low immunity, should avoid close contact with patients with herpes zoster to reduce the possibility of virus transmission.

3. People over 50 need special attention.

Due to the gradual weakening of cellular immune function, age is an important factor of herpes zoster, and almost all people over 50 years old are at risk of developing herpes zoster.

4. Vaccinate in time

Consider vaccination against herpes zoster, which is one of the effective methods to prevent herpes zoster at present. The protective efficacy of recombinant herpes zoster vaccine is over 90%, and the protective efficacy is maintained at around 89% in 10 years. The model predicts the immune response that can last for 20 years. In view of the fact that herpes zoster may cause severe postherpetic neuralgia, vaccination is an important preventive measure and should be implemented as soon as possible.

Comprehensive preventive measures can effectively reduce the incidence of herpes zoster. If there are suspected symptoms or high-risk groups, consult a doctor in time and take corresponding medical protective measures.

References:

[1] "West China experts say that these nine" thunder "about herpes zoster, if you don’t step on one, I lose! West china hospital. 2023-12-18.

[2] Zhang Binghou, a famous Chinese doctor: experience in treating herpes zoster. Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine.2023-12-09.

[3] "Herpes zoster has many troubles in TCM treatment". Medical service platform of Hebei Provincial People’s Hospital.2023-09-01

[4] "The post-70s" has an increased risk of this disease. Once infected, it will be carried for life! Over 90% of adults are latent with this virus. Guangxi CDC. 2023-03-02.

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Once infected, carry it for life! It hurts when you have an attack. Over 90% of adults have this virus lurking in their bodies.

Original title: "Once infected, carry it for life! The attack is painful, and the virus lurks in over 90% of adults.

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