What Causes Shingles?
5. Causes
Shingles is known to be caused by the VZV. However, the exact mechanism that triggers the reactivation of this virus is still unknown. Some have proposed that it may be due to emotional stress, external reexposure to the virus, acute or chronic disease processes (such as infections or malignancies), and medications. It is observed that decreased cellular immunity increases the risk of reactivation as the incidence increases in immunocompromised individuals and advancing age.
Shingles has been observed to occur twice as often in those with hypercalcemia. The cause of the chronic phase of shingles is also unknown. Early treatment decreases the incidence of the chronic phase. This is based on the theory that chronic pain results in a positive feedback loop, which creates a central pain syndrome. Early treatment helps to break this loop.
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