5 neurological complications due to shingles

Shingles is an acute infectious disease caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV). Symptoms of the disease include skin paresthesias (itching, stinging, burning, pain), papular rashes and blisters. Some cases may include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, stress, and depression.

Doctor II Tran Le Thanh Tam, Head of the Neurology Unit, Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, said that shingles and chickenpox are closely related. After the patient recovers from chickenpox, the VZV virus still exists and lives hidden (sleeping) in the nerve ganglia for many months, possibly years. When conditions are favorable, such as a weakened immune system, the virus will become active again (wake up), leave its residence, and move along the nerves, causing inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis of the nerve endings. terrible.

People who have had chickenpox and have symptoms suspected of having shingles should seek timely examination and treatment at a neurology, internal medicine or dermatology specialist. Because if the disease lasts for a long time, it can cause many dangerous complications.

Postherpetic neuralgia

Depending on the affected nerve, the VZV virus can cause chronic pain accompanied by heat and burning in different body areas such as the eyes, face, back, chest… Postherpetic neuralgia causes colds. Feeling a lot of pain, possibly accompanied by intermittent convulsions, the pain cannot be relieved by external skin effects. Severe, prolonged pain not only reduces the patient’s quality of life but also increases the risk of complications such as depression, insomnia, stroke…

Patients with postherpetic neuralgia can be treated with transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. Strong and short-term magnetic field sources have the ability to penetrate the skin and skull to directly impact the cerebral cortex. This area plays an important role in regulating pain signals, reducing pain sensation through the mechanism of reducing pain sensitivity of the central nervous system. “This is a modern technique, non-invasive, painless, and safe for even the elderly,” Dr. Tam said.

Stroke

The VZV virus attacks the cerebral vascular system causing inflammation, causing the endothelium to thicken, increasing the risk of narrowing or blocking blood vessels, thereby reducing blood flow to the brain, leading to stroke and ischemic stroke. Cerebral vasculitis causes vessel walls to become weaker. Risk of aneurysm or rupture of blood vessels when intravascular pressure increases to pump blood through narrow or obstructed areas. A ruptured blood vessel causes blood to flow into the brain parenchyma, causing a hemorrhagic stroke.

Inflammation of the brain or meninges

Shingles can attack the ear canal or spinal cord. From there, the VZV virus travels through the nervous system to the brain, causing inflammation. Patients who do not receive timely treatment are likely to have their lives affected or experience long-term neurological sequelae such as weakness, numbness of the limbs, epilepsy…

Facial muscle paralysis, pain and numbness in the face

When the VZV virus attacks the branches of the 5th or 7th nerve, depending on the level of damage, the patient is susceptible to decreased sensation, numbness, and facial paralysis in local areas. Typical symptoms are the inability to frown, wrinkle the forehead, distort the mouth, lose the ability to express…

Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a condition in which the peripheral facial nerves are damaged during shingles. Patients are at risk of facial paralysis on the same side as the affected ear, difficulty closing one eye, ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, loss of balance, change or loss of taste…

Dr. Thanh Tam said that shingles also causes many other complications such as impaired or lost vision, blood infections, pneumonia, hepatitis, and heart rhythm disorders. The risk of complications after shingles is often increased for the elderly, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems or chronic underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer…

Prevent shingles by maintaining hygiene and avoiding contact with people with shingles while the body has blisters. Get enough sleep, don’t smoke, maintain a reasonable lifestyle and rest regimen, avoid stress, and exercise to increase resistance. People 18 years of age and older, especially those with weakened immune systems or a history of shingles, should get vaccinated to prevent the disease.