Zones disease in women occurs when the infectious varicella zoster virus, the same causative agent of chickenpox, is activated years later....Zones in women is not life-threatening, but it is known as a very painful disease.

Usually, all children experience chicken pox at a young age.... This disease is caused by the varicella zoster virus and may appear as a shingles infection in adulthood.... Some research shows that the risk of shingles is higher in women with weakened immune systems...

Women are more prone to a weak immune system due to hormonal changes in different periods of their life such as puberty, menstrual cycle or pregnancy.. Therefore, if they were infected with chicken pox in childhood, the disease virus may be activated in the form of shingles in women years later... LLC magazine... Anyway, we want to help you better manage shingles in women by raising awareness and improving your knowledge about this disease. Let's do it.

You can also contact Infectious Disease Specialist GCORP LLC for an online consultation.

What is shingles in women?

Shingles, which is called shingles in English, is a type of viral infection in the nerve and the skin around it. This disease is characterized by painful and red rashes that appear in clusters on the skin... Shingles in women often appears in different areas of the body such as the neck, chest, eyes, back or sides that have nerve fibers... It is interesting to know that shingles is usually seen in women over 50 years old..

In fact, the younger the age of contracting chickenpox, which shares a common virus with shingles, the less likely women will be affected by these blister strips.

The cause of shingles in women

Infectious varicella zoster virus is the main cause of shingles disease, which occurs in men and women in the same way.. This virus causes chicken pox in women, but remains silent after complete recovery in their nervous system..

This may lead to shingles in women years later and it shows itself by appearing on the skin... But it cannot be said with certainty that all women who have chicken pox in childhood will definitely get shingles at an older age..

Learn more:Is shingles contagious?.. How many days can it spread?

Actually, scientists have not yet discovered the main reason for the activation of this disease in the body of women... but they believe that the weakness of the immune system, especially with increasing age in women, increases the possibility of contracting this disease..

This disease is also known by the medical term herpes zoster (herpes zoster). The reason is that varicella zoster is related to the virus that causes oral herpes and genital herpes (herpes viruses). But this does not mean that the chickenpox and shingles virus is the same virus that causes oral and genital herpes.

Which women are more at risk of contracting shingles?

• Women after 50 years
• Weak immune system in women due to cancer or HIV
• Women who are undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• Severe stress and anxiety in women

Know the symptoms of shingles in women!

If women have been infected with chicken pox and varicella zoster virus in the past, if the immune system is weakened for various reasons, there is a possibility of getting shingles.. Like men, women will feel the first sign of shingles with severe pain..

Experts believe that the symptoms of shingles can appear in any part of the body that has nerve fibers... but these symptoms often affect only one side of the body (usually the right or left side) in women.

The most common symptoms of shingles in women are:

• occurrence of red rash
• vesicular rash
• Feeling pain and burning
• Severe itching
• Tingling or numbness around the rash

If necessary, you can consult an infectious disease doctor online and you can also visit an infectious disease specialist in person.

Learn more: Can shingles in children be treated?

Experts currently do not know why some women feel the red, blistering rash only on the right or left side of their body, but other women are severely affected by the disease.... Their guess is that women who have been exposed to this infectious virus have a weaker immune system.

How is shingles in pregnant women?

Due to hormonal changes, women during pregnancy are susceptible to various infectious viruses, including shingles... The initial symptoms of this disease in pregnant women are not much different from other women..

In some cases, pregnant mothers experience the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Fever and chills
• Sensitivity to the nose
• stomach pain

If you are pregnant, exposure to someone with chicken pox can be dangerous for the fetus.... In this case, when you have already had chicken pox and the virus remains hidden in your body, you are at risk of developing shingles. Therefore, doctors recommend that if you are planning to become pregnant and have had chicken pox in the past, you should get the shingles vaccine before trying to get pregnant>..

Effects of shingles on the fetus What is it during pregnancy?

For this reason, if you suspect shingles during pregnancy, doctors focus on the mother's recovery and preventing the complications of this disease... Therefore, if you see symptoms similar to chicken pox or shingles, be sure to inform your doctor.... Because starting the treatment in the first days of the body's immune system's involvement with the shingles virus increases the probability of its occurrence, complications and complications.>

Treatment of shingles in women

There is no definitive treatment for shingles in women....because this disease is an infectious virus that gradually disappears after passing the course....However, doctors use antiviral drugs to shorten the treatment period....in general, it can be said that the treatment period for shingles in women is about 3 to 6 weeks...

Drugs that are useful for relieving symptoms and treating this disease in women are:

• Acyclovir
• famciclovir
• Valaciclovir
• 5% topical acyclovir and calamine D ointment (to reduce itching and pain)
Analgesics (ibuprofen, naproxen) and antidepressants for pain relief after recovery

Learn more: What is shingles?

How to treat shingles in women with the help of home remedies?

The best solution is to consume foods and fruits that strengthen the body's immune system and have cooling properties... Considering the effect of shingles on the nerves of women's bodies, it is very likely that after complete recovery, you will still feel vague pain in the affected areas...

Therefore, to relieve those pains and reduce the symptoms of the disease, home and common traditional medicine methods can be used to treat shingles in women.

Home remedies for treating shingles in women include:

• Place a cold compress on the affected area of ​​the shingles.
• Take a cold shower or sit in a cold tub.
• Watermelon consumption plays an important role in strengthening the body's resistance.
• Crush the garlic and place it on the affected area for 30 minutes.
• Put 2 teaspoons of honey for 20 minutes and 3 times a day on the skin rash caused by shingles.
• Combine tea tree oil with water, olive oil and lavender and apply it on the wounds to relieve the itching and pain of the blisters.
• Adding Epsom salt to the tub and placing the affected area in it for 20 to 30 minutes will dry out the blisters.
• Pour chamomile oil drop by drop on the affected area so that the skin becomes cellular again.

Learn more: Can shingles in men be treated?

Guide to see a doctor

Bringing together the best specialists, the GCORP LLC website allows you to book an in-person appointment with an infectious disease specialist of your choice through our online scheduling system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: mayoclinic | health line