How long does the rash last?
If a patient suffers from shingles, he typically develops a limited rash. In most cases (80%), this rash is preceded by a clinically silent phase, the so-called prodromal stage, in which there are no noticeable symptoms.Usually this stage lasts 3 to 5 days. After this period of time, initially inconspicuous spots develop.
In the area of the erythema (skin rash), blisters form after 12 to 24 hours. These stand in groups and fill with clear liquid before they join together to form larger blisters after another 2 to 4 days. After that the contents of the skin symptoms become cloudy.
Over 7 to about 12 days the blisters usually dry out. Crusts form over the areas where the blisters have formed. It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks for these to disappear in patients with a healthy immune system. If there are already problems with the immune system before the onset of shingles, the disease and its symptoms can continue for months. New groups of vesicles are constantly being formed, which go through the cycle described above.
How long does the pain last?
In shingles, unilateral pain is concentrated in the area that is supplied by the affected nerve. The pain is often one of the first symptoms and occurs shortly after reactivation of the viruses. In addition, a general disease symptomatology can develop, which can be accompanied by headaches.
The pain in the innervation area (supply area of the nerve), where the rash subsequently develops, remains during the acute course of the disease. During the healing process, the pain should be relieved. In order to avoid a later chronification, the pain can be alleviated by medication.
In some cases a so-called post-zoster neuralgia (nerve pain after shingles) occurs. The affected area remains painful for a long time after the actual disease has healed. The risk group is people between 55 and 60 years of age.
Pain therapy lasting for months with different procedures can be the consequence of such a complication. The actual nerve pain, which in almost all cases is associated with shingles, subsides within the next two weeks as the disease heals. The therapy of this pain is the focus of the treatment, in addition to the antiviral agents and the drying out of the blisters.
In some cases, however, the nerve pain caused by the viruses can last longer. From four weeks after the actual disease has subsided, this is known as post-zoster neuralgia. This can become chronic and the pain can therefore last for a long time. Special risk factors for the development of such a chronic nerve pain are above all the occurrence of shingles in the head area and the increasing age of the affected person. For example, there is a very high risk of developing post-zoster neuralgia in 70-80 year olds as a result of shingles, which requires adequate therapy.
