Shingles is an acute inflammatory condition of the dorsal root ganglia, which causes the nerve cells on a spinal nerve to become inflamed (Nazarko, 2013). People develop chickenpox when they first exposure to herpes virus in childhood. When they recover from chickenpox, the virus remains in the spinal nerves in a dormant form. People with healthy immune systems keep the virus dormant with no symptoms of shingles. When people are in immune depressive status or when people are aging, they have increased risk to develop shingles due to reactive the herpes virus in the body. According to Conceicao and Shostak (2015), the typically shingles’ clinical features include: (1) People feel burning, tingling, numbness, or pruritus 1-4 days before the appearance
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is 77 years old with PMH of HTN. He has erythematous vesicular rashes accompanying pain and itching over the left chest wall for 3 days. Corden (2014) states the most common site for shingles is the thoracic nerve in people who do not have a compromised immune system. H. Z’s typical clinical features show he has shingles. The treatment goals are to limit the duration and severity of the illness and to reduce complications (Corden, 2014), which include (1) antiviral medication is taken at 72 hours of rash developing to lessen the severity of the condition. (2) Assess patient’s pain level and give analgesia. (3) Over -the- counter antihistamines to help with itching. (4) Supportive treatments, which include keeping the affected areas clean with mild soap and water and avoiding scratching to prevent scarring and secondary bacterial infections. According to H. Z’ clinical signs and symptoms, the treatment plan includes (1) antiviral medication valacyclovir 1000 mg, 1 tab, po, tid x 7days. (2) Analgesia Advil 200 mg, 1 tab, po, every 4-6 hours, PRN. (3) Antihistamine medication cetirizine 10 mg, I tablet, po, qd. (4). Prevent secondary bacterial infections: educate the patient keeping a good hygiene and proper skin care, washed the affected areas with mild soap and
is 77 years old with PMH of HTN. He has erythematous vesicular rashes accompanying pain and itching over the left chest wall for 3 days. Corden (2014) states the most common site for shingles is the thoracic nerve in people who do not have a compromised immune system. H. Z’s typical clinical features show he has shingles. The treatment goals are to limit the duration and severity of the illness and to reduce complications (Corden, 2014), which include (1) antiviral medication is taken at 72 hours of rash developing to lessen the severity of the condition. (2) Assess patient’s pain level and give analgesia. (3) Over -the- counter antihistamines to help with itching. (4) Supportive treatments, which include keeping the affected areas clean with mild soap and water and avoiding scratching to prevent scarring and secondary bacterial infections. According to H. Z’ clinical signs and symptoms, the treatment plan includes (1) antiviral medication valacyclovir 1000 mg, 1 tab, po, tid x 7days. (2) Analgesia Advil 200 mg, 1 tab, po, every 4-6 hours, PRN. (3) Antihistamine medication cetirizine 10 mg, I tablet, po, qd. (4). Prevent secondary bacterial infections: educate the patient keeping a good hygiene and proper skin care, washed the affected areas with mild soap and