Although the initial symptoms of herpes zoster include
a tingling, itching and burning pain or extreme sensitivity
that is usually limited to one side of the body along
with a light fever and malaise, these symptoms of
herpes can very often be linked to other disease conditions
as well. Symptoms of herpes zoster therefore, need
a more critical approach. Clinical presentations of
hyperesthesia, paresthesia, etc. during the predronal
stage (which is basically the early stage of the disease)
of herpes zoster are often misdiagnosed as cardiac
problems, pleurisy, herniated nucleus pulpossus, etc.
And this makes the issue complex.
The early symptoms of herpes zoster in the human
body include a burning pain (also referred to as the
St. Antony’s Fire), itching, extreme sensitivity
limited to one side of the body that lasts for about
three days. After this the initial zoster rash appears
on the skin. These are invariably accompanied by fever
and a relentless headache that can turn people roving
mad.
Then comes the crucial time of blister formation
that somewhat resemble the chickenpox rash of a younger
age. The blisters persist for two to three very painful
weeks, their contents varying in color from pale yellow
to blood red. After the painful blisters have taken
their toll, the crusts start forming, suggesting a
respite from all the pain and the discomfort of the
disease. But no, things may yet turn for the worse
in some cases where the pain continues for several
weeks after the crusting of the zoster blisters. Such
cases are referred to as Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN),
and when this happens, the condition becomes complicated
and it becomes difficult to manage.
Symptoms of herpes zoster in elderly patients include
acute facial palsy, vertigo, loss of hearing, blurred
vision, delirium and meningismus along with a high
fever and severe headache. When at some stage, the
symptoms of herpes zoster and herpes simplex seem
to overlap, laboratory testing is required to differentiate
between the two.
The following are yet more symptoms of herpes that
a person may come across in daily life…
• Unusual swelling of lymph nodes
• Vision abnormalities
• Taste abnormalities
• Drooping eyelids (Ptosis)
• Loss of eye motion
• Hearing loss
• Pain in the joints
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Dysgeusia
• Loss of sensation in several areas of the
body
• Both mental and physical fatigue
Since herpes can cause several problems with the
eye and the surrounding skin, inflammation of the
conjunctiva and iris usually occur, causing conjunctivitis
and iritis. And in some severe cases, the retina and
the optic nerve may also get affected. Chronic outbreaks
of herpes zoster are associated with glaucoma, cataract,
double vision and scarring of the cornea.
Symptoms of Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) in the herpes
disease may also include…
• Anorexia
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Loss of libido
• Suicidal tendencies
