Zona: Symptoms, pimples, treatment, contagious?

Definition: What is the zona?

The zona is an infectious disease linked to a new contact with the virus responsible for chickenpox, commonly called the VZV."Years after a chickenpox, the same virus can reinfect the weakened body and colonize a cutaneous nervous territory," explains Dr. Jean-Luc Rigon, dermatologist-venerologist in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).The virus can spread through nerves to the skin and mucous membranes where it creates vesicles close to those of chickenpox."The zona comes out on a well -limited nervous territory; its manifestations are located most of the time on one side of the body," said the specialist.The reactivation of the virus can occur mainly in the elderly or during a decrease in the defense of the body.

Types of zona

The zona can affect different areas, depending on the nervous territory attacked."Some areas are more dangerous than others, like the face or the eye; the consequences can be more serious," said Dr. Rigon.

Zona Intercostal

It is the most frequent zona, called "the belt of fire".A nerve located at the vertebral column is infected, which causes the appearance of symptoms in the innervated area, on one side of the chest: we speak of a hemi eruption between 2 ribs."This zona evolves in two or three weeks, it is often benign," reassures the dermatologist.Less frequent, the abdominal zona develops at the abdomen level, with a less clear form.

Why do the Most illiterate People Write the Longet Complaints?And how do they manage to leave out relevant information Every Time?

— Molly Rogers Thu Jul 22 14:08:46 +0000 2021

Ophthalmic zona or eyes

It is a rare and potentially serious form of Zona.The disease manifests itself by sharp pains on one side of the face followed by a rash and burns in the eyelids and eyes."This zona can be responsible for loss of view by the opacification of the cornea and must be treated in emergency".

Facial or face zona

Classically, it is a zona, which appears on one side of the face.It corresponds to the achievement of one of the 3 branches of the trijumeau nerve responsible for the sensitivity of the face.

Otitic or ear zona

When it reaches the nerve of Wrisberg, the zona is said to be otitic and causes specific symptoms: ear pain, loss of sensitivity of the tongue and sometimes hearing dizziness or disorders associated with facial paralysis."It is a rarer zona and difficult to diagnose, because it only affects part of the auditory duct".

Symptoms: How to recognize a zona?

"The zona is a burn," sums up Dr. Rigon.As such, the precursor signs of a zona thrust are often characteristic:

The zona buttons in photo

Is the zona contagious?

A person who has already had chickenpox will not be able to contract the zona with a person herself suffering from a zona.On the other hand, the virus can be transmitted to a person who has never contracted chickenpox.The liquid present in the vesicles contains the VZV;If this vesicular liquid comes into contact with the mucous membranes of an unchantic person, he may contaminate him."But the risk is low, since almost everyone has already had chickenpox," said Jean-Luc Rigon.However, attention must be paid to newborns, in whom the VZV can have serious consequences.

There is no contagious risk from one zone to another in the same person: an intercostal zona will not generate an ophthalmic zona, but good hygiene must be adopted."Having an intercostal zona, scratching, then putting your contact lenses without washing your hands is the assured disaster! You can easily have an infected eye.Antiseptics and occlusive dressings are used to avoid the risk of infection, "recommends Dr. Rigon.

What are the causes of the zona?

Note that nine out of ten adults in the world have already contracted the chickenpox virus and are therefore carrying the VZV virus.Among these people, it is estimated that a small number will one day be affected by the zona.The virus is reactivated when the immune defenses are dropped.This may be due to stress, or even a disease (cancer, leukemia, etc.)."During influenza epidemics, for example, you can be more vulnerable," adds Jean-Luc Rigon.

I manage my push subscriptions