Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital recorded many hospitalizations due to incorrect treatment of shingles. The case of Mr. T.V.S (70 years old, Long An) is an example. After listening to the advice of "painting" with incense and ship'sink, his shingles skin not only did not improve but also suffered severe infections, blisters turned into pus, and high fever. He had to be hospitalized for intensive treatment.
Doctor Nguyen Vu Hoang - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - said that each year, this place receives nearly 10,000 cases of shingles, many of which suffer from complications due to self-treatment.
Using leaves, pillow oil or folk remedies cannot kill viruses but can easily cause cellulitis, leaving scars or prolonged nerve pain, he warned.
There is now a clear treatment regimen for shingles with viral antibodies combined with pain relievers and skin care. The earlier treatment is done (within 72 hours after the start), the less the risk of complications is.
The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases also received many severe cases of shingles in the elderly. Mr. N.C.X (77 years old, Hanoi) had blisters in his abdomen and waist, took medicine at home but did not improve. When admitted to the hospital, he was diagnosed with shingles with neuralgia on the basis of chronic gout.
Mrs. H.T.P (73 years old) applied folk tips such as applying green beans when she felt pain and burning and blisters in the ribs. As a result, the condition spread, pain, and insomnia for a long time. When admitted to the hospital, she suffered serious skin damage due to shingles. The two patients were treated with antiviral drug Acyclovir, painkillers and antibiotics injected into the vein to prevent nhiem. After more than a week, the condition improved significantly.
According to Dr. Vu Minh Dien - Deputy Head of the General Internal Medicine Department (Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases), shingles often appear in the waist and ribs, creating blisters on the nerves. Post-herpetic neuralgia can last for many months or even a year, causing fatigue in the elderly, decreased immunity, and severely affecting the quality of life.
Herpes Zoster virus lives silently in the nervous system and re-activates when the body is weak. The disease is not contagious but can cause dangerous complications if not treated properly. Common complications are eye damage, nerve paralysis, even stroke, encephalitis, Myasthenia gravis, blindness if shingles attack the eye area.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen - President of the Vietnam Medical Association - said: "For every 3 adults, 1 person will have shingles. More than 90% of people over 50 have a potential chickenpox virus, which can easily re-activate into shingles. In addition to neurological complications, shingles are also associated with cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, increasing the risk of death in people with underlying diseases.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen also encourages people to prevent diseases by combining measures: physical exercise, controlling chronic diseases, avoiding stress and especially vaccination. Proactive disease prevention not only helps improve quality of life but also reduces the burden on the health sector.
