Pontine Hemorrhage

 

What is Pontine Hemorrhage?

Pontine hemorrhages are a common form of intracerebral hemorrhage, and usually are a result of poorly controlled long-standing hypertension, although also have other causes. When due to chronic hypertension, the stigmata of chronic hypertensive encephalopathy are often present. It carries a very poor prognosis.

The pons is the largest component of the brain stem. When blood flow to the pons becomes interrupted, it causes a pontine stroke or pons stroke. When the disruption is caused by a blood clot in particular, it’s referred to as a pontine infarction or pontine infarct.

Epidemiology

Primary pontine hemorrhage accounts for ~7.5% (range 5-10%) of hemorrhagic strokes and has an incidence of ~3 per 100,000 people.

Cause of Pontine Stroke

Pontine strokes can be classified as either ischemic or hemorrhagic.

An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot, while a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain bursts. Pontine strokes make up approximately 7% of all ischemic strokes (pontine infarct) and 10% of hemorrhagic strokes.

Hypertension and diabetes are two of the most common risk factors for all ischemic strokes and especially lacunar infarcts, a type of ischemic stroke that occurs in the deep areas of the brain such as the pons.

Other common causes of pontine stroke include diseases that affect the arteries such as small artery disease, large artery atherosclerosis (when the arteries become thickened with plaque), and cardiogenic emboli (when a blood clot travels from the heart to the brain).

Clinical Presentation of Pontine Hemorrhage

Patients present with sudden and precipitous neurological deficits. Depending on the speed at which the hematoma enlarges and the exact location, presentation may include:

• Decreased level of consciousness (most common)
• Long tract signs including quadriparesis
• Cranial nerve palsies
• Seizures
• Cheyne-Stokes respiration
• Pin-Point Pupil
• Dysarthria
• Dysphagia
• Locked-in syndrome: Involves paralysis of all four limbs (tetraplegia) as well as the face. The eyes are still able move. The survivor retains full cognitive function, aware of their environment but unable to interact with it except with eye movement — as long as the other areas of the pons that control eye movement were unaffected.
• Pure sensory deficits

Pathology

As is the case with penetrating arteries into the basal ganglia, the penetrating arteries from the basilar artery extending into the pons are subject to lipo-hyalinosis as a result of poorly-controlled hypertension. This renders the vessel wall prone to rupture. The larger paramedian perforators are more commonly the culprit vessels.

Radiographic features of Pontine Hemorrhage

CT

CT of the brain is usually the first, and often the only, investigation obtained upon presentation. Features typical of an acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage are noted, usually located centrally within the pons (on account of the larger paramedian perforators usually being the site of bleeding).

The hematoma more frequently extends in a rostro-caudal direction along the traversing long tracts rather than laterally into the middle cerebellar peduncle. Usually the hematoma does not extend beyond the pontomedullary junction inferiorly and the inferior midbrain superiorly. These hematomas frequently rupture into the 4th ventricle.

Pontine Hemorrhage

Pontine Hemorrhage

MRI

In patients who have small volume bleeds and who are thought to possibly have an underlying lesion, MRI may be of use (e.g. identification of a vascular malformation).

Treatment and Prognosis

Patient with this hemorrhages have a poor prognosis, with large bleeds being almost universally fatal. Open surgical evacuation of the clot is usually not performed, although stereotactic clot aspiration has been advocated by some.

In smaller hemorrhages, medical management and treatment of hydrocephalus with extraventricular drains may be life-saving, however, often with significant residual neurological deficits.

Overall mortality ranges between 30% and 90%, with the overall volume of the bleed and initial GCS being related to outcome.

Rehabilitation for Pontine Stroke Survivors

Rehabilitation can take many forms to address the unique secondary effects caused by a pontine stroke. Therapists will help you create a custom rehabilitation plan that addresses your unique goals to improve movement and/or sensation.

One major goal of rehabilitation is to spark neuroplasticity to help rewire the brain and recover as much function as possible. Neuroplasticity is activated through massed practice as the brain gets better at the activities and skills that we repeatedly practice.

Here are some of types of therapy that are commonly used to treat the effects of a pontine stroke:

Physical Therapy

During physical therapy, your therapist will guide you through rehabilitation exercises that help improve mobility in the affected muscles. Survivors with severe motor impairments can start slow with passive range of motion exercises to help prevent complications such as contractures or pressure sores. Passive movement also helps spark neuroplasticity and rewire the brain. Over time, they may be able to progress to more active exercises and even strengthening.

Occupational Therapy

Your occupational therapist specializes in maximizing independence with the activities of daily living. Your OT will provide you with both functional exercises and any necessary compensation techniques to help you complete your daily tasks. They can also offer recommendations for home modifications to help prevent falls, discuss safety concerns and precautions following sensation loss, and provide resources for getting back to work or back to drive again.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapists are able to address difficulties with speaking, swallowing, and general communication skills. They may use a variety of exercises to improve the strength and coordination of the muscles surrounding your mouth and face. They can also suggest methods of communication other than speaking, called augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). For example, if you have locked-in syndrome, they may recommend using technology designed to track your eye movements to communicate.

Home Therapy

A strong home exercise program after stroke can make a noticeable difference during recovery. Whether you have mild, moderate, or severe effects that you wish to recover, your therapist can provide suitable exercises for you to practice at home. Home therapy is essential to keep the brain constantly stimulated and maximize neuroplasticity.

Sensory Retraining

Sometimes a pontine stroke can cause changes in sensation such as numbness, tingling, or difficulty sensing temperature. For these sensory issues, sensory retraining exercises might be able to help. It involves safely exposing your skin to various textures and temperatures to stimulate the brain.

Recovery from Pontine Stroke

Overall, a pontine stroke can affect movement and/or sensation on one or both sides of the body. Although pontine infarcts are technically small in nature, they can create significant effects such as locked-in syndrome, especially when both sides of the pons were affected.

Fortunately, with a rigorous rehabilitation regimen, survivors can stimulate the brain and maximize their chances of recovery. Not all survivors will achieve a full recovery, but it’s a possibility for many. Approach your stroke recovery prognosis with curiosity to see how far you can go.

Urinary Bladder Cancer

Urinary Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine.

Urinary bladder cancer most often begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder. Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters, too, but it’s much more common in the bladder.

Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when the cancer is highly treatable. But even early-stage bladder cancers can come back after successful treatment. For this reason, people with bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests for years after treatment to look for bladder cancer that recurs.

What are Urinary bladder Cancer types?

There are three types of urinary bladder cancer. Each type is named for the cells that line the wall of your bladder where the cancer started. Bladder cancer types include:

• Transitional cell carcinoma: This cancer starts in transitional cells in the inner lining of your bladder wall. About 90% of all bladder cancers are transitional. In this cancer type, abnormal cells spread from the inner lining to other layers deep in your bladder or through your bladder wall into fatty tissues that surround your bladder. This bladder cancer type is also known as urothelial bladder cancer.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that line the inside of your bladder. This bladder cancer accounts for about 5% of bladder cancers and typically develops in people who’ve had long bouts of bladder inflammation or irritation.
• Adenocarcinoma: Adenocarcinoma cancers are cancers in the glands that line your organs, including your bladder. This is a very rare type of bladder cancer, accounting for 1% to 2% of all bladder cancers.
• Small cell carcinoma of the bladder: This extremely rare type of bladder cancer affects about 1,000 people in the U.S.
• Sarcoma: Rarely, soft tissue sarcomas start in bladder muscle cells.

Healthcare providers may also categorize bladder cancer as being noninvasive, non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive.

• Noninvasive: This bladder cancer may be tumors in a small section of tissue or cancer that’s only on or near the surface of your bladder.
• Non-muscle-invasive: This refers to bladder cancer that’s moved deeper into your bladder but hasn’t spread to muscle.
• Muscle-invasive: This bladder cancer has grown into bladder wall muscle and may have spread into the fatty layers or tissues on organs outside of your bladder.

Risk Factors for Urinary Bladder Cancer

• Cigarette smoke: Smoking cigarettes more than doubles your risk of developing bladder cancer. Smoking pipes and cigars and being exposed to second-hand smoke may also increase your risk.
• Radiation exposure: Radiation therapy to treat cancer may increase your risk of developing bladder cancer.
• Chemotherapy: Certain chemotherapy drugs may increase your risk.
• Exposure to certain chemicals: Studies show that people who work with certain chemicals used in dyes, rubber, leather, paint, some textiles and hairdressing supplies may have an increased risk.
• Frequent bladder infections: People who have frequent bladder infections, bladder stones or other urinary tract infections may be at an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
• Chronic catheter use: People who have a chronic need for a catheter in their bladder may be at risk for squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms of Urinary Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include:

• Blood in urine (hematuria), which is painless and may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test
• Frequent urination
• Painful urination
• Back pain

Diagnosis of Urinary Bladder Cancer

• Urinalysis: Providers use a variety of tests to analyze your pee. In this case, they may do urinalysis to rule out infection.
• Cytology: Providers examine cells under a microscope for signs of cancer.
• Cystoscopy: This is the primary test to identify and diagnose bladder cancer. For this test, providers use a pencil-sized lighted tube called a cystoscope to view the inside of your bladder and urethra. They may use a fluorescent dye and a special blue light that makes it easier to see cancer in your bladder. Providers may also take tissue samples while doing cystoscopies.

If urinalysis, cytology and cystoscopy results show you have bladder cancer, healthcare providers then do tests to learn more about the cancer, including:

• Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT): Providers do this procedure to remove bladder tumors for additional tests. TURBT procedures may also be a treatment, removing bladder tumors before the tumors can invade your bladder’s muscle wall. This test is an outpatient procedure done under spinal or general anesthesia.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This imaging test uses a magnet, radio waves and a computer to take detailed images of your bladder.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Providers may do this test to see if cancer has spread outside of your bladder.
• Chest X-ray: This test lets providers check for signs bladder cancer has spread to your lungs.
• Bone scan: Like a chest X-ray, bone scans check for signs bladder cancer has spread to your bones.
• Biopsies to look for cancer spread.

How do I take care of myself?

About half of all people with bladder cancer have early-stage cancer that’s relatively easy to treat. But bladder cancer often comes back (recurs). People who’ve had bladder cancer will need regular checkups after treatment. Being vigilant about follow-up care is one thing you can do to take care of yourself. Here are some other suggestions from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network include:

• Follow a heart-healthy diet: Plan menus that include skinless poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Focus on high-fiber foods: Bladder cancer treatment may cause digestive issues and a fiber-rich diet may help.
• Get some exercise: Gentle exercise may help manage stress.
• Connect with others: Bladder cancer often comes back. It’s not easy to have a rare disease that’s likely to return. Connecting with people who understand what you’re going through may help.

A note from Bhavishya Clinic+

If you have bladder cancer, it may help to know about half of all people with the condition receive treatment when their tumors are limited to the inner layer of their bladder wall. For them, surgery to remove tumors means they’re cancer-free. But bladder cancer often comes back (recurs). If you’re worried about recurring cancer, talk to your healthcare provider. They’re your best resource for information on risk factors that increase the chance you’ll have another bout of bladder cancer. They’ll help you stay vigilant about symptoms that may be signs of recurring bladder cancer and be there for you if you need more bladder cancer treatment.

 No. 1 Digital Health ATM Machine

Digital Health ATM Machine from Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd.

What is Digital Health ATM Machine?

Clinics on cloud health kisosk is an aggregtion of CE/FDA/Medical Grade devices combined with HIPPA complaint backened software which solves problem of basic health awarness checkup.

The company has conducted 100 health machines across the state and for this, it had entered into an agreement with ‘Clinics on Round’, firm. Interestingly, this machine can be handled by anyone competently.

People will be able to get their full body check-up done in 10 minutes at a Health ATM. These health ATMs will be installed in parks, markets, hospitals and such places where there is more movement of people. Tests for dengue, malaria, HIV, typhoid will be done.

Efficiently conducting the tests to check corona infection without any help from a doctor, the Hindustan Antibiotics Company Limited (HAL) has come up with the ‘Health ATM’, a digital machine which was one of its kinds in India. The Pimpri based company HAL through this machine will conduct 22 different tests and will give the results within five minutes stating whether you are fit or unfit.

Inbuild Devices in Digital Health ATM Machine: The advanced technology

• Blood pressure
• Glucometer
• Thermometer
• Oximeter
• Hemoglobinometer
• Digital Height Sensor
• Body fat analyser etc.

Total 22 parameters measured in digital health ATM machine:

BMI, BMR, Body fat, Body water, Bone mass fat, Free weight, Muscles mass, Protein, Skeletal muscles subcutaneous mass, Visceral fat, Weight, Physic rating, Metabolic age, Health score, Height, BP, Blood sugar level, Pulse, SPO2, Body temperature and Haemoglobin.

What all can be done

• To install 100 health ATS on an experimental basis
• 10,000 machines to be produced in the first phase
• To be given for emergency services
• Immediate use in the high-risk area
• To store the health information digitally
• HIPPA (Health insurance portability and accountability act 1996) 

 Sinusitis (Rhinosinusitis)

Sinusitis Symptoms

What is Sinusitis?

An infection of the sinuses is known as acute sinusitis. Rhinosinusitis is often a better word since the sinus passageways and nasal passages are connected. Acute rhinosinusitis is a frequent diagnosis, resulting in a significant amount of yearly healthcare costs and plenty of visits to primary care facilities. Additionally, it is a typical justification for prescribing antibiotics. 

It can be brought on by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, with viral infections being the most frequent. Antibiotics are frequently overprescribed in the treatment of this ailment, so it’s crucial to understand how to correctly examine a sinusitis patient and determine when antibiotics are necessary. In accordance with the recommendations made by several societies, this article covers the causes of rhinosinusitis and when antibiotic treatment in the management of this illness might be appropriate.

Maxillary Sinus

Different types of rhinosinusitis may be separated into the following categories based on consensus opinions:

1. Acute – Signs and symptoms for fewer than four weeks.
2. Subacute – It takes between four and twelve weeks for symptoms to subside.
3. Chronic – Enduring symptoms for more than 12 weeks.
4. Recurrent – Four episodes lasting fewer than four weeks, with full symptom relief between each episode.

Occurrences 

One out of every five antibiotic prescriptions for adults is for acute rhinosinusitis, making it the sixth most prevalent cause for an antibiotic prescription. 6 to 7 per cent of children with respiratory symptoms are affected by acute rhinosinusitis.

Approximately,

1. 16% of individuals are diagnosed yearly with ABRS. Given the clinical nature of this diagnosis, an overestimation is possible.
2. An estimated 0.5 to 2.0% of viral rhinosinusitis (VRS) in adults.
3. And 5 to 10% of children will progress to bacterial infections.

Causes 

1. The most prevalent cause of acute rhinosinusitis is viruses.
2. The microorganisms responsible for viral rhinosinusitis (VRS) include rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus, and parainfluenza virus.
3. Streptococcus pneumonia (38%) is the most prevalent cause of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (36%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (16%).
4. Rarely, fungal infections may also cause acute rhinosinusitis, although this is virtually only seen in immunocompromised people.
5. It is crucial to distinguish between acute invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) and allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS), which manifests in immunocompetent people as a mass-like lesion filling a sinus canal and often causes persistent symptoms.

How to assess the patient?

1. Clinical evaluations often identify acute rhinosinusitis. The most sensitive and specific “cardinal” symptoms for acute rhinosinusitis are purulent nasal discharge accompanied by nasal obstruction or face pain/pressure/fullness. This must be determined particularly from people who report “headache” as a general complaint. Facial pressure is a symptom of sinusitis, but the headache is not (with the rare exception of sphenoid sinusitis, which may manifest as an occipital or vertex headache and is often persistent). The observant doctor must gather this information from the patient in order to ascertain the patient’s precise symptoms.

2. ABRS may be diagnosed if cardinal symptoms continue beyond ten days or if they intensify after an initial period of recovery (“double worsening”). Acute rhinosinusitis is accompanied by cough, weariness, hyposmia, anosmia, maxillary dental discomfort, and ear fullness or pressure. Mucopus coming from the osteomeatal complex may be detected by anterior rhinoscopy, or it may be proven by formal endoscopic rhinoscopy in the clinic.

3. The clinical manifestation of ABRS differs somewhat across children. Children are more likely to appear with fevers, in addition to the 10-day length, cardinal symptoms, and “double worsening.” Initial nasal discharge may be watery, then become purulent. Approximately 80% of acute bacterial sinusitis is preceded by an upper respiratory infection.

4. The severity of the symptoms suggests a bacterial origin. At the onset of the disease, these symptoms include high fevers (above 39 C or 102 F) accompanied by purulent nasal discharge or face discomfort for three to four consecutive days. Generally, viral diseases resolve within three to five days.

Antibiotic resistance issues must also be taken into account. These include:

• Antibiotic usage during the past month
• Hospitalisation within the preceding five days
• Healthcare profession
• Local antibiotic resistance trends are known to local healthcare providers

Finally, it is important to determine whether a patient is at increased risk. Included among these attributes are:

• Comorbidities (i.e., cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease)
• Immunocompromised states
• Age under 2 years or over 65 years

5. In immunocompromised patients, acute fungal rhinosinusitis is often accompanied by fevers, nasal blockage or bleeding, and face discomfort; however, it may also be asymptomatic. Refractory or severe symptoms should urge investigation of this diagnosis in immunocompromised patients.

How to diagnose the condition?

Clinical evaluations often identify acute rhinosinusitis. It is essential for the doctor to differentiate between VRS and ABRS in order to guarantee the appropriate use of antibiotics.

Local resistance patterns and prevalence of penicillin non-susceptible S. pneumoniae warrants clarification.

The conventional diagnostic criteria for adult rhinosinusitis include the presence of at least two significant symptoms or one major symptom plus two or more mild symptoms. In youngsters, the requirements are the same, with the exception of a greater focus on nasal discharge (rather than nasal obstruction).

Principal Symptoms :

• Purulent anterior nasal discharge
• Fever (for acute sinusitis only)
• Purulent or discoloured posterior nasal discharge
• Facial congestion or fullness
• Nasal congestion or obstruction
• Facial pain or pressure
• Hyposmia or anosmia

Mild features:

• Headache
• Ear pain or pressure or fullness
• Halitosis
• Dental pain
• Cough
• Fever (for subacute or chronic sinusitis)
• Fatigue

Here is some clinical advice for telling ABRS from VRS:

1. Duration of symptoms exceeding 10 days.
2. At the onset of the disease, a high temperature (above 39 C or 102 F) is accompanied by purulent nasal discharge or face discomfort for three to four consecutive days.
3. Increase in symptom severity within the first 10 days.

In general, routine laboratory testing is unnecessary. Evaluations for cystic fibrosis, ciliary dysfunction, and immunodeficiency should be considered for chronic, recurring, or persistent rhinosinusitis. Some data suggest that a high ESR and CRP may indicate a bacterial infection.

The gold standard is the culture of endoscopic aspirates with more than or equal to 10 CFU/mL. However, this is not required for ABRS diagnosis and is not performed in the great majority of instances. Due to their weak connection with endoscopic aspirates, nasal and nasopharyngeal cultures are of little value. Referral for endoscopic aspiration may be beneficial for individuals with resistant infections or numerous antibiotic sensitivities.

Imaging is rarely indicated for acute sinusitis unless there is clinical concern for a complication or alternate diagnosis. Plain sinus films are often ineffective in identifying inflammation. They may display air-fluid levels. However, this does not aid in distinguishing between viral and bacterial etiologies. If a complication or other diagnosis is suspected, or if the patient has repeated acute infections, sinus CT imaging should be performed to evaluate for bone, soft tissue, dental, or other structural abnormalities, as well as chronic sinusitis.

These should be attained after an acceptable course of therapy. CT scans of the sinuses may reveal air-fluid levels, opacification, and inflammation. Over 5 mm of thicker sinus mucosa is symptomatic of inflammation. Additionally, it can efficiently evaluate bone deterioration or disintegration. However, these data are not useful for distinguishing between viral and bacterial etiologies.

MRI provides more information than sinus CT when evaluating soft tissue or illuminating a malignancy. Consequently, MRI may be useful for determining the severity of problems in situations involving ocular or cerebral extension.

How to manage the condition?

Antibiotic medication or a period of cautious waiting may be used to treat ABRS, provided that reliable follow-up is assured. There are minor differences in the guidelines of various expert committees.

The amended 2015 American Academy of Otolaryngology Adult Sinusitis guideline suggests amoxicillin with or without clavulanate for 5 to 10 days as first-line treatment for the majority of people. Failure of treatment is determined if symptoms do not improve or worsen within seven days.

The Infectious Disease Society of America Guidelines for Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis prescribe amoxicillin with clavulanate for 10 to 14 days in children and 5 to 7 days in adults as first-line treatment. Failure of treatment is determined if symptoms do not improve within 3 to 5 days or worsen within 48 to 72 hours.

the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinic Practice Guideline for the diagnosis and management of acute bacterial sinusitis in children aged 18 years recommended amoxicillin with or without clavulanate as first-line treatment. Uncertainty surrounds the length of therapy, although their recommendation was to continue treatment for a further seven days after symptoms disappear.

If, after 72 hours of therapy, symptoms do not improve or worsen, the treatment has failed. If the patient cannot accept oral fluids, ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg may be administered. If the patient can tolerate oral fluids the next day and improves, he or she may then begin an oral antibiotic regimen. To effectively address beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, a separate article recommends amoxicillin with clavulanate as the first treatment for children.

Adding clavulanate or prescribing high-dose amoxicillin (90mg/kg/day vs 45mg/kg/day) in children is determined by local antibiotic resistance trends, the patient’s risk level, risk factors for antibiotic resistance, and the severity of symptoms.

A third-generation cephalosporin with clindamycin (for enough coverage of non-susceptible S. pneumoniae) or doxycycline might be therapeutic options for penicillin-allergic individuals. The effectiveness of third-generation cephalosporins alone against S. pneumoniae is inconsistent. Fluoroquinolones might also be explored, although they have a greater incidence of adverse effects. In youngsters, doxycycline and fluoroquinolones should be administered with more care. S. pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae have elevated levels of resistance to second-generation cephalosporins, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and macrolides.

There is also evidence that antibiotic medication does not always reduce the duration of symptoms or the risk of complications in adults. Many instances of ABRS may also resolve spontaneously within two weeks.

Symptomatic therapies 

Clinicians may give symptomatic therapies, but generally, there is a lack of conclusive data. In guidelines, nasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation are the most popular suggestions. By lowering mucosal oedema, intranasal steroids may assist in relieving the blockage. A limited number of clinical studies suggested that greater dosages of intranasal corticosteroids may reduce the period of symptom remission by two to three weeks. Additionally, nasal saline irrigation may aid in reducing blockage. Due to their ability to thicken nasal secretions, antihistamines are not recommended unless there is a definite allergic component.

Be aware of potential complications

Complications are uncommon, occurring in around one out of every thousand cases. Infections of the sinuses may extend to the orbit, bone, and cerebral cavities. 80% of orbitocranial problems manifest in the orbit. These problems may be associated with substantial morbidity and death. Due to the very thin ethmoid bone that divides infections from the ethmoid from the orbit, the orbit is the most likely location.

Prognosis

Most cases of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis are viral. The vast majority of cases are either self-limiting or efficiently treatable with antibiotics. In immunocompromised individuals, invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is an uncommon but severe type of illness. It is related to a high risk of morbidity and death.

 Shingles (Herpes Zoster) 

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The rash most often appears as a band of rashes or blisters in one area of your body.

Where does shingles come from?

When you have chickenpox as a child, your body fights off the varicella-zoster virus and the physical signs of chickenpox fade away, but the virus always remains in your body. In adulthood, sometimes the virus becomes active again. This time, the varicella-zoster virus makes its second appearance in the form of shingles.

How common is shingles?

About 1 million cases of shingles are diagnosed every year. The risk of shingles increases as you get older, with about half the cases occurring in people over the age of 50. Shingles develops in about 10% of people who have had chickenpox at an earlier time in their lives.

Who is at risk for getting shingles?

People who have had chickenpox who are more likely to develop shingles include those:

• With a weakened immune system (such as people with cancer, HIV, organ transplant recipients or those receiving chemotherapy).
• Over the age of 50.
• Who have been ill.
• Who have experienced trauma.
• Who are under stress.

The chickenpox virus doesn’t leave your body after you have chickenpox. Instead, the virus stays in a portion of your spinal nerve root called the dorsal root ganglion. For the majority of people, the virus stays there quietly and doesn’t cause problems. Researchers aren’t always sure why the virus gets reactivated, but this typically occurs at times of stress.

Can you get shingles more than once?

Yes, you can get shingles more than one time. One of the biggest myths about shingles is that it can only happen once. This isn’t true. You can have more than one episode. If you get shingles again, you usually don’t get the rash in the same place.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

Early symptoms of shingles may include:

• Fever.
• Chills.
• Headache.
• Feeling tired.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Stomach upset.

Other signs and symptoms that appear a few days after the early symptoms include:

• An itching, tingling or burning feeling in an area of your skin.
• Redness on your skin in the affected area.
• Raised rash in a small area of your skin.
• Fluid-filled blisters that break open then scab over.
• Mild to severe pain in the area of skin affected.

How long does a shingles outbreak last?

It can take three to five weeks from the time you begin to feel symptoms until the rash totally disappears.

1. First, a few days before the rash appears, you may feel pain in an area on your skin. The pain is described as itching, burning, stabbing or shooting. This usually happens before the rash comes.
2. Next, the raised rash appears as a band or a patch, usually on one side of your body. The rash usually appears around your waistline or on one side of your face, neck, or on the trunk (chest/abdomen/back), but not always. It can occur in other areas including your arms and legs.
3. Within three to four days, the rash develops into red, fluid-filled, painful, open blisters.
4. Usually, these blisters begin to dry out and crust over within about 10 days.
5. The scabs clear up about two to three weeks later.

Do you always get the typical rash if you have shingles?

Occasionally, some people don’t get a rash. If you have any of the other symptoms of shingles (even without a rash), see your healthcare provider sooner rather than later. There are effective treatments you can take early for shingles. Even if you don’t have shingles, seeing your healthcare provider will help you get your condition diagnosed and treated.

Why does shingles appear mostly on one side or in one area of your body?

The virus travels in specific nerves, so you will often see shingles occur in a band on one side of your body. This band corresponds to the area where the nerve transmits signals. The shingles rash stays somewhat localized to an area. It doesn’t spread over your whole body. Your torso is a common area, as is your face.

Is shingles contagious?

Someone with shingles can’t spread shingles to another person, but they can spread chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with the fluid that oozes from the blisters. Shingles is rarely spread by breathing in the varicella-zoster virus the way airborne viruses are spread. If your rash is in the blister phase, stay away from those who haven’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine and keep your rash covered.

How long are you contagious if you have shingles?

If you have shingles, you’re contagious until the rash is dried and crusted over. The varicella-zoster virus can only cause chickenpox in someone who has never had chickenpox or hasn’t been vaccinated against chickenpox.

How is shingles diagnosed?

Shingles can be diagnosed by the way the rash is distributed on your body. The blisters of a shingles rash usually appear in a band on one side of your body. Shingles also may be diagnosed in a laboratory using scrapings or a swab of the fluid from the blisters.

How is shingles treated?

There is no cure for shingles but there are treatments for managing the symptoms.

Antiviral medications

These drugs may ease the discomfort and make the symptoms stop sooner, particularly if you start them within 72 hours of the first sign of shingles. They may also help prevent the pain that can happen months and years later, called post-herpetic neuralgia. These medications include:

• Acyclovir.
• Famciclovir.
• Valacyclovir.

Over-the-counter pain medications

These medications include the following and may be effective in relieving pain:

• Acetaminophen.
• Ibuprofen.

Other medications

Antibacterial drugs may be prescribed if you develop a bacterial infection due to the shingles rash. Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone may be prescribed if shingles affects your eyes or other parts of your face.

If you have more than one area of blisters, what can you expect if you go to the hospital?

It’s important to note that most people with shingles don’t need to be in a hospital, but if you do:

• You’ll be in a contact isolation room.
• The door will be kept closed.
• A sign on your door will remind people who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine not to enter.
• The sign will also remind staff to wear gowns and gloves when entering the room.

If you have shingles in only one area of your body that can’t be kept covered, what can you expect for your hospital stay?

• You will be in a contact isolation room.
• The sign on the door will remind staff to wear gowns and gloves when entering the room.

What are the complications of shingles?

After the shingles rash has disappeared, you might continue to have nerve pain in that same area. Postherpetic neuralgia can last for months or years and become quite severe.

More than 10% of people who get shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia. Researchers don’t know why some people get postherpetic neuralgia and others don’t. It may be that nerves become more sensitive or that the virus may be invading and damaging the central nervous system.

Other complications include:

• Other types of nerve issues like numbness or itching.
• A bacterial infection of the shingles rash.
• Eye and ear inflammation if the rash is near these organs.

Is shingles dangerous or even fatal?

If shingles involves your eye, it can lead to blindness. In rare cases, shingles can lead to hearing problems, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and even death.

How is postherpetic neuralgia treated?

Treatments include lotions or creams (such as lidocaine or capsaicin) and/or other medications not specifically used for pain, such as antidepressants or drugs for epilepsy. Regular pain relievers are not usually effective for this type of pain.

If your pain doesn’t lessen, you might try therapies like nerve blocks or steroid injections near the area where the nerves exit the spine. Your provider might suggest an implantable nerve stimulator device for severe, ongoing pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments.

Is a vaccine available to prevent shingles?

Two vaccines are available in the market to reduce your chance of developing shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. One vaccine, Zostavax®, has been available since 2006. The second vaccine, Shingrix®, has been available since 2017. Shingrix is recommended as the preferred vaccine by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of medical and public health experts.

Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) is given as a two-dose shot in your upper arm. You should receive the second dose (shot) two to six months after receiving the first. Shingrix has been shown to be more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Its effectiveness remains above 85% for at least four years after receiving the vaccine.

Who should be vaccinated with Shingrix?

The Shingrix vaccine is recommended for those 50 years of age and older who are in good health.

You should get the Shingrix vaccine even if:

• You’ve had shingles already.
• You’ve been previously vaccinated with Zostavax (a live zoster vaccine). If you’ve been vaccinated with Zostavax, wait at least eight weeks before getting vaccinated with Shingrix.
• You don’t know for sure if you’ve ever had chickenpox.

Ask your healthcare provider, who knows your entire health history if getting this vaccine is right for you.

Who should not be vaccinated with Shingrix?

You shouldn’t receive the Shingrix vaccine if you:

• Have ever had a severe allergy to this vaccine or any ingredient in this vaccine.
• Are breastfeeding or pregnant.
• Currently have shingles.
• Are ill and have a high fever.
• Have tested negative for immunity to varicella-zoster virus (get the chickenpox vaccine instead).

Ask your healthcare provider if the benefits of getting the vaccine outweigh any potential risks.

What serious side effects should you watch for after getting the Shingrix vaccine?

Serious side effects from vaccines are extremely rare. However, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you experience any of the following within minutes to hours after receiving Shingrix:

• Swelling of your face or throat.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Hives.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness.

If you’ve had shingles recently, how long should you wait before getting the Shingrix vaccine?

You can get the Shingrix vaccine any time after the shingles rash has gone away.

When is it safe to return to work if you have shingles?

You can return to work when you feel well enough to return and you’re no longer contagious. This means that your blistered rash has dried up and scabbed over. This usually takes up to 10 days from the time the rash first appears.

Are there natural ways to boost your immune system to help lessen the chances of developing shingles?

Stress is a risk factor for developing shingles, so limiting your stress can be helpful. Try meditation, yoga or other relaxation methods.

Other things you can do include:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

These are all tips for an overall healthy lifestyle, not just for reducing your chance of getting shingles.

What is the difference between herpes zoster and varicella-zoster?

Herpes zoster is simply another medical name for shingles. Varicella-zoster is the virus that causes both shingles and chickenpox.

A note from Bhavishya Clinic+

If you’ve had chickenpox, you’re at risk of developing shingles later in life. Shingles causes a rash that is contagious and painful. The disease can have serious complications. The best thing you can do to reduce your risk is to get the shingles vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective.