Shingles - Glossary
Antidepressants - Any type of medications used to counter depression.Antiviral - An agent that is effective against viruses.
Blister - A collection of serous, bloody or watery fluid under the skin.
Chemotherapy - Treatment by chemical substances having a specific effect on the microorganisms causing disease without injuring the patient.
Corticosteroid - A steroidal compound found in urine which has biological properties resembling those of adrenal cortical extract.
Herpes - Skin disease marked by clusters of small vesicles.
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus; the virus that is responsible for causing AIDS.
Immune system - A system of the body through which it fights the effects of deleterious agents like pathogenic microorganisms and protects itself from diseases.
Neuralgia - Pain in a nerve
Opioid - Any man-made drug that exhibits properties of opium and is given to treat pain.
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Rash - A temporary eruption on the skin.
Shingles - An acute virus disease characterized by inflammation of dorsal root ganglia and marked by a vesicular eruption along the area of distribution of a cutaneous nerve.
TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation – A type of treatment in which electrodes are attached to the skin and low amounts of electricity is sent to the affected nerves to block the pain sensation.
Tricyclic antidepressants - A type of medication given to ease Post Herpetic Neuralgia(PHN). Brand names of some commonly used tricyclic antidepressants are Elavil, Pamelor, and Norpramin.
Varicella Zoster - A type of virus which causes chicken pox and shingles. It belongs to the herpes family.
Virus - One of a heterogenous group of infectious agents, smaller than ordinary bacteria and requiring susceptible host cells for multiplication and activity.
