Herpes Zoster: Common Signs, Symptoms & Risk Factors - Essay Sample

Introduction

Varicella-zoster is the virus responsible for causing the disease (herpes zoster). It is an acute viral condition that which has been identified as the reactivation of the latent virus while chickenpox is considered to be the primary infection.

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Common Signs And Symptoms

The condition is known to prevail more in adults than in children. A risk of the ophthalmic condition is experienced amongst individuals where the disease develops on the face. However, there are frequent occurrences of lesions on the thorax. The distribution of a nerve pathway is experienced which is followed by an eruption of vesicles on an erythematous base. The eruption happens after a unilateral neuralgic pain.

Screening Assessment Tools for Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster recommended diagnostic tests:

1. an occurrence of a painful prodrome, which occurs in more than half all patients.
2. grouped vesicles or papules;
3. a unilateral dermatomal distribution;
4. a history of a rash when observed across the same delivery may suggest recurrent herpes simplex.

Treatment Plans

The same treatment used for herpes simplex is used for this condition, but systematic analgesics are added in the process. After the eruption of lesions, acyclovir is administered within the 48 hours but only with severe forms of the condition.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a critical condition involving synovium as well as the bone cartilage. An imbalance between Both erosive and reparative processes has been identified to describe the real situation that exists for the entire condition to manifest.

There are different parts of the body that mainly face some of the fatal impacts of the disease. They include; the hands, hip, knees, feet, and spine. The shoulders, temporomandibular, sacroiliac and wrist joints sacroiliac and wrist joints, have also noted to experience the impacts but at lower rates. Loading and movement on the joints increase the pain for individuals suffering from the condition while knee pain radiates from the hip and pain in the leg links with spinal disease. Pain associated with the bone is commonly felt in the groin while other parts like the hands usually experience pain in the distal interphalangeal joints or Heberden's nodes, the proximal interphalangeal joints (Bouchard's nodes) and the base of the thumb.

Screening Assessment Tools And Diagnosis

The condition's clinical representation is utilized in its diagnosis. To achieve Confirmation and progression, radiography with the presence of joint space narrowing, bone deformity, bone sclerosis and cysts can be considered. In cases where one suspects infection or crystal arthropathy, there is a need to analyse the synovial fluid. Some of these fluids can be gout or pseudogout.

Treatment

Minimisation of the disease progression is one of the essential goals of the treatment process. The other purpose of the procedure includes pain reduction as well as optimisation of progress. The intervention procedure for any individual undergoing the condition include;

• Access to information where the patient can be advised or educated
• Obese patients are advised to reduce their weight if necessary.
• Aerobic fitness and strengthening of muscles through exercise are also essential.

In cases where the above treatment options prove to be ineffective, topical NSAIDS, as well as paracetamol, can be included in the intervention regimen. Manipulation and stretching can also be used as manual therapy. Other treatment strategies may also involve transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and joint arthroplasty. To reduce pain and inflammation in the joints, Intra-articular steroids can be utilised. These steroids ought to be considered as adjunct to core treatment while treating both minor and severe pain. Available in different forms for the treatment process are the glucosamine and chondroitin that can be purchased from different platforms.

References

Cohen, J. I. (2013). Herpes zoster. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(3), 255-263.

Dworkin, R. H., Gnann Jr, J. W., Oaklander, A. L., Raja, S. N., Schmader, K. E., & Whitley, R. J. (2008). Diagnosis and assessment of pain associated with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. The Journal of Pain, 9(1), 37-44.

McAlindon, T. E., LaValley, M. P., Gulin, J. P., & Felson, D. T. (2000). Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. Jama, 283(11), 1469-1475.

O'Reilly, S. C., Muir, K. R., & Doherty, M. (1996). Screening for pain in knee osteoarthritis: which question?. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 55(12), 931-933.