Treatment of sequelae of snake bite

Some diseases, even if cured, will leave sequelae that will cause the patient unspeakable pain. The sequelae of sheath around waist are such a disease. The sequelae of snakebite can seriously reduce the patient's immunity and easily cause the patient's skin to feel burning pain. If not treated in time, it may cause death. What kind of disease is shingles that can have such a serious impact on patients? What treatments should be taken for the sequelae of shingles?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an acute infectious skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Children who are not immune to the virus develop chickenpox when infected. Some patients become carriers of the virus after being infected but do not develop symptoms. Because the virus is neurotropic, it can remain dormant in the neurons of the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord for a long time after infection. When the resistance is low or when you are tired, infected, or have a cold, the virus can grow and multiply again and move along the nerve fibers to the skin, causing severe inflammation of the invaded nerves and skin. The rash is generally unilateral and distributed according to nerve segments, composed of clustered herpes and accompanied by pain; the older the age, the more severe the neuralgia. This disease is more common in adults and is more common in spring and autumn. The incidence rate increases significantly with age.

Post-herpetic neuralgia can cause neuralgia in frail or elderly patients that may last for months or even years. It can seriously affect sleep and mood; severe pain and prolonged duration can lead to mental anxiety, depression and other symptoms.

1. TCM classification of post-herpetic syndrome:

1. Excessive heat in the liver and gallbladder

Symptoms: Red skin with densely clustered papules and blisters, tense blister walls, burning pain or itching, bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat or hard stools, red tongue with yellow coating, and rapid and stringy pulse.

2. Damp-heat in the spleen meridian

Symptoms: Clustered blisters with loose and easily ruptured blister walls, or exudate and erosion with little pain, accompanied by poor appetite, abdominal distension, dry stool, fat tongue with yellow and greasy coating, and slippery or rapid pulse.

3. Qi stagnation and blood stasis

Symptoms: Severe pain persists after the blisters subside, or there is chest tightness and sighing, the tongue is dark purple or dark red, the tongue coating is thin, and the pulse is stringy or astringent.

4. Yin deficiency and blood stasis

Symptoms: After the herpes subsides, there is dull pain in the chest and flanks or as if it were stabbing with needles, dry mouth and throat, no desire to drink or little drinking, peeling tongue coating or little fluid, and a thready and stringy pulse.

2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

According to traditional Chinese medicine, herpes zoster is mostly caused by internal injury of emotions, which leads to excessive fire in the liver and gallbladder, or long-term dampness in the spleen, internal accumulation of dampness and heat, and external toxic evil. The main characteristic of the sequelae of herpes zoster is severe stinging pain, and the treatment focuses on clearing away heat and dampness, and unblocking blood vessels and activating collaterals.

3. Prevention

1. Get more rest, eat easily digestible food and drink plenty of water.

2. Don't be too nervous. Some patients may develop blisters, blood blisters, or even erosions on their skin, but please don't be nervous. If treated properly, the disease will heal in about 10 days and will generally not recur after recovery.

3. Prevent secondary bacterial infection. Do not rub the affected area to prevent the blisters from bursting. You can apply Chinese herbal medicine or Levnol wet compress externally to promote the drying and scabbing of blisters.

4. Suffering from "herpes zoster" indicates that the patient's immunity is in a low state, and appropriate measures should be taken in time.

5. Elderly patients with severe symptoms, especially those with herpes zoster on the head and face, are best hospitalized to prevent complications.

6. Some patients still have neuralgia after the skin lesions have completely disappeared. In this case, acupuncture and physical therapy can be used.

4. Taboos

Patients with post-herpetic sequelae should rest adequately, avoid rubbing the affected area, and keep the affected area clean and dry. It is advisable to eat some light food, supplement more vitamins, avoid eating spicy and irritating foods, and take isatis root powder, antiviral oral liquid, etc. If post-herpetic neuralgia occurs, Chinese medicine should be used for treatment in a timely manner.