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Shingles in children is very rare, with only about 5% of all cases occurring in those under the age of 15. The likelihood of a child developing shingles is greater if they had chickenpox as infants, and especially so if they contracted it before they were 6 months old.
If a child was born to a mother who had chicken pox during the pregnancy, the child may have the virus at birth and is therefore more likely to develop shingles in later childhood. For these children, it will most likely take 4-6 years for the virus to reemerge.
Common Symptoms:
Shingles is most often identified by a rash that begins as a tingling pain under the skin before developing into small blisters. The rash normally develops in a “belt” on one side of the body along the affected nerve. The blisters will fill with fluid before breaking open and scabbing over. This process generally takes about 3-4 weeks to run its course.
If the rash develops on the nose or forehead, or begins to spread to that area, it is important to take your child to a doctor immediately. If the virus spreads to the eyes or ears, it can cause serious damage that may result in loss of vision or hearing if left untreated.
Shingles in children usually produces less severe symptoms than it does in older patients, and children usually rebound from a shingles outbreak fairly quickly. However, shingles in children with weak immune systems may be more severe. Children who have illnesses such as cancer or AIDS may suffer more serious symptoms, and are more likely to suffer from complications associated with shingles. In such cases, the outbreak should be monitored closely and treated promptly in order to prevent more serious problems from developing as a result of the shingles virus.
Problems that may arise:
The majority of shingles cases heal properly and with few complications. However, shingles can sometimes cause a variety of conditions if left untreated. The most common of these conditions are:
Infection - If the shingles rash is left untreated, the blisters may become infected and spread to other parts of the body. This is most dangerous if the virus spreads to the face, because there is a greater risk that the virus will infect the eye, causing severe damage that may result in loss of vision.
Ramsey Hunt’s Syndrome - This occurs when the varicella-zoster virus affects the facial nerves, sometimes causing dizziness, ear aches, hearing loss, and sometimes even palsy in the affected nerve. The tongue may even be affected, and the patient may experience a loss of taste in the tip of the tongue - the part of the tongue that tastes sweet, which can seem tragic to a child who loves sweets!
Post-herpetic neuralgia - This condition occurs when the pain of shingles lingers after the rash is gone. This condition is not very common in children, as most cases occur in people over 50.
Shingles in children is treated with anti-viral drugs to reduce the risk of infection and
topical ointment to help the itching. If the pain is severe, pain relievers may be prescribed.
In the rare case that a child suffers from PHN, a method called TENS (transcutaneous nerve stimulation) may be used to send small amounts of electricity to the affected skin area, which will in turn produce endorphins that will act as a natural painkiller.
Injections of nerve blockers in the affected area may be also be used, which will essentially numb the area and thereby temporarily relieve pain. Steroids, anti-depressants, or anti-convulsants may also be used to bring the pain down to a minimum.
These methods are rarely needed for shingles in children, since the pain of shingles is not as bad for children as it is for older people.
At-home care for shingles:
Shingles in children can be very unpleasant for both parent and child, so here are a few tips to may help to ease some of the discomfort:
- Cool compresses will sometimes help the itching and burning
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest so that their immune system is working to the best of its ability
- Keep the affected area clean, but make sure to avoid any scented soap or body wash
- Make sure the child wears loose-fitting clothes or pajamas in order to avoid irritating the rash
- Try natural treatments such as Shingles No More -- if traditional treatments don’t seem to have an effect, a natural remedy may be able to provide relief.
Shingles