My mother has contracted shingles whilst on chemo for Lymphoma. Chemo has now been stopped, but the shingles are still active into the 5th week. Her weight has dropped to 6 stone 12, and most of the time cant get up. How long does this last with this type of patient, she is 78?
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Singles infection is caused by the chicken pox virus reactivation at the dorsal ganglion of spinal nerves. This condition is usually seen in immunologically weak and in elderly. As your mother is taking chemotherapy and is also elderly, this reactivation of the chicken pox virus has taken place with a higher magnitude. Patients with suspected shingles have to be given a course of antiviral medicine like acyclovir or val acyclovir within 72 hours of first appearance of rashes. If not given then the rashes take a longer time and the patient is in more pain and discomfort. If the rashes are not responding to acyclovir or val acyclovir then it might be resistant to treatment and this has to be followed up with other medicines. Though the rashes usually fall off in a week in most patients, it is difficult to predict the course of this illness in a patient having lymphoma and in elderly age group. Some patients also require treatment with IV medications and this can reduce the flaring of symptoms. Shingles pain and discomfort might persist for up to 6 months and there is herpes neuralgia in which the patient might have burning symptoms for a long time. This is treated with powerful pain relievers.