Shingles - diagnosis and treatment

from www.shingles.org/ help website

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same infection that causes chicken pox. The main difference, however, is that shingles generally erupts in a band on one side of the body, rather than all over your body. It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have shingles.

The goals of treatment for shingles are to:
Shorten the duration of the eruptive stage or rash

Speed up healing of the lesions

Relieve patient discomfort

Shorten the duration of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)

Shingles is usually treated with:
Prescription oral antiviral drugs to reduce the duration of the infection

Prescription and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation

Prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription antidepressants to help with the pain.

The duration of shingles can be significantly reduced for many people with the use of oral prescription antiviral medications. It is important to go to the doctor as soon as you suspect you may have shingles. Shingles should be diagnosed and treated early (within 72 hours, or 3 days) after the rash appears. Oral antiviral medications like FAMVIR® (famciclovir) are used to treat shingles.