On November 28, Master - Doctor Thai Thanh Yen (Department of Dermatology - Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City) said that shingles is a skin infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) of the herpes virus family. After a patient has recovered from chickenpox, some Varicella viruses still exist in a latent state but do not cause disease. These viruses reside in nerve ganglia for many months, many years. When encountering favorable conditions such as: immunodeficiency, mental trauma or physical weakness... this type of virus will reactivate. They multiply and develop, spreading along the sensory nerve endings, damaging the mucous membranes and skin, thereby causing shingles.
In people with shingles, vesicles form clusters, plaques, and plaques on an erythematous base A
Confusion between shingles and dermatitis caused by ants
"The symptoms of skin infections caused by shingles and dermatitis caused by ants have many similarities such as blisters on an erythematous background, burning pain in the affected area, making it easy for many patients to confuse diagnosis and treatment, causing the patient's condition not only not to improve but also to progress into many serious complications, prolonging the recovery time," Dr. Thanh Yen shared.
In daily life, many people with contact dermatitis caused by ants easily mistake themselves for shingles and use Acyclovir to treat it, which can not only prevent the wound from healing but also increase the risk of ulcers, infections and secondary infections ... However, these are actually two completely different skin infections in terms of cause and some clinical symptoms as well as the ability to transmit the disease.
Contact dermatitis blisters caused by ants are usually small, red, and pustular.
Distinguishing between shingles and contact dermatitis caused by ants is very important to provide proper and effective treatment, care and prevention of the risk of complications and serious infections.
Below are some differences to distinguish between shingles and contact dermatitis caused by ants:
Nerve cells | Contact dermatitis caused by ants | |
Reason | - Due to activation of Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) in patients with a history of chickenpox and immunodeficiency - Not related to weather or season | - Due to the body's contact with secretions containing the toxic Pederin secreted by the three-cavity ant. - The disease is common in the rainy season. |
Symptom | - Clusters of vesicles, plaques, and clusters on an erythematous base follow the path of sensory nerves attacked by the virus. - Mainly appears on one side of the body along the nerve branch - Feeling: Pain, burning deep into the nerve branch | - Blisters are usually small, red, pustules, and tend to form long, opaque white streaks/lines. - Causes burning, mild swelling, little itching. - There is no clear characteristic distribution, usually according to the exposure of the toxin |
Risk of recurrence and complications | - Often leaves scars (keloids/depressed scars) - The pain of post-infectious neuralgia persists for months and years. - Recurrence is rare, the recurrence rate of herpes zoster in men and women after 8 years is 4% and 7%, respectively. | -Usually leaves only dry, slightly scaly skin or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and improves over time. - Can recur whenever the body is re-exposed to toxic secretions. |
Transmissibility | People with shingles can transmit VZV to others through direct contact with the blisters and rash on the affected skin and cause chickenpox if the contact person has not had chickenpox. If the contact person has had chickenpox, there is a potential risk of developing shingles. | It is not contagious from person to person but can spread throughout the body if the wound is not properly cared for. |
Time to recovery | After about 2 to 3 weeks. | After about 5-7 days. |
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