What does shingles look like in children? The appearance of shingles in a child may look similar to the rash that develops after exposure to the virus. The most noticeable thing in children is that it causes a discoloration or redness of the skin followed by a blister that ruptures and peels off to form patches of skin known as blisters. There are other causes of shingles, however, such as stress, trauma or infection. In all cases, the rash that develops is extremely itchy.
Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus, which is responsible for chickenpox, reactivates. It is possible to develop the condition even after the last case of chickenpox. For this reason, people who have recently suffered from a case of chickenpox are at increased risk of developing shingles. Shingles is considered a chronic condition, which means that there is a risk of developing it again in the future.
The exact cause of shingles is not known, but it is believed to be associated with an infection on the nerves that control the eyes. Other risk factors include allergies and stress. People who suffer from diabetes and elderly are also at risk. Since shingles is caused by an infection on the nerve that supplies the eyes, those who have other conditions associated with these parts of the body are at higher risk for developing shingles.
Since the appearance of shingles in children can be so startling, it is important to identify the symptoms early. Inability to identify the early symptoms can lead to complications such as infection, nerve damage or blindness. If you think your child may have shingles, be sure to get a proper diagnosis by an ophthalmologist or pediatrician to ensure the proper treatment and recovery.
One of the most commonly asked questions about what does shingles look like in children is how long the rash lasts. Most children will have a short duration of experiencing the symptoms after developing the disease. Children who experience longer durations of symptoms may have serious underlying problems, so it’s important to be aware of what is wrong to ensure the proper care is received. Keep in mind that this only applies to children who are experiencing the disease for the first time.
Since the appearance of shingles can vary significantly from one person to the next, it is very important to consult your doctor so he or she can make a correct diagnosis. There are a number of ways to differentiate between what does shingles look like in children and something else. One common way doctors can determine if the rash is in fact shingles is by looking at photographs of the rash. Some children will have a small red area on their face or body. Others will have the entire top of their body covered with the blisters. Doctors can also test patients for other conditions, such as mononucleosis or Lupus, to help narrow down the diagnosis.
The appearance of what does shingles look like in children can be similar to the look of chicken pox, which explains why so many parents feel so confident when they bring their child home from the doctor and tell them they have the chicken pox. However, since children have much less raised skin than adults do, it is much harder to diagnose the disease accurately in children. Keep in mind that when the rash looks like chicken pox, it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the shoulder, thighs, and buttocks.
You may be asking yourself, “What does shingles look like in children? I can’t just tell my child that it looks like chicken pox.” This is true, but knowing the symptoms is helpful. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, it’s important to take them to the doctor right away.