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Fever Blister - Herpes.Herpes consists in the formation of watery blisters, several of which lie in close proximity, each surrounded by a reddened and inflamed base. The vesicles do not burst, but their contents become somewhat milky, and finally dry up. The development of the blisters is attended with itching, burning, and finally with a smarting which amounts to acute pain. In many cases one blister, or crop of blisters, will be followed by a second before the first has dried up. In many cases a certain amount of fever and general indisposition precedes the development of the blisters ; in other instances herpes appears, especially on the lips, in the course of acute diseases. It is especially common during the convalescence from pneu monia. Herpes may occur on the lip alone, though in many instances blisters appear at the edge of the nostrils, and perhaps inside of the mouth and on the 'palate. The blisters may occur on other parts of the face as well as on the lip, especially on the cheeks and fore head. Sometimes, too, the eruption occurs on the eye, when it is quite painful and is apt to alarm the patient. Among the other parts of the body which are especially liable to the occurrence of the eruption, are the genital organs of both sexes and the sides of the chest. When it occurs in the former sit uation it is apt, especially if combined with a guilty conscience, to excite suspicion of venereal disease. Only a practiced eye can distinguish between the latter affections and an innocent eruption of herpes. When the rash appears in this locality in females, it excites considerable burning pain and much annoyance. Some women suffer from herpes on the genitals at every menstrual period. Herpes occurring on the side of the chest is found to follow the edge of a rib, perhaps all of the way from the backbone to the front of the chest. The appearance of the eruption is often preceded by neuralgia in the side, and perhaps even by attacks of colic, and by difficulty in breathing. After two or three days of this feeling the patient perceives a burning sensation in the side, the skin being often somewhat tender upon pressure. With the appearance of the rash, the burning pain subsides, but the skin becomes extremely itchy. Herpes of the side follows pretty accurately the track of some one of the nerves, from which fact it has been assumed to be essentially a nervous disease. Herpes of the side-shingles - may appear at any time of life, even in infants, but is most frequently observed between ten and twenty-five years of age ; men are more susceptible than women ; and spring and fall seem to furnish more cases than the other seasons of the year. The eruption of shingles begins with a reddening of the skin, upon which a few vesicles or blisters as large as the head of a pin appear. In the course of a few days these blisters have increased in size, and may run together so as to form vesicles as large as a bean. The contents of the blisters is at first a clear watery fluid which gradually becomes cloudy and yellow ; in ten to fifteen days the blisters begin to dry up and are replaced by blackish scabs. The disease lasts from two to three weeks, and the eruption leaves no permanent scar. A curious fact about shingles, as well as about herpes gen erally, is that it occurs only on one side of the body or face. It is often remarkable to see how abruptly the rash ends exactly at the middle line of the body. Yet cases do occur in which both sides of the body are affected at the same time. Treatment.-Herpes' is a perfectly harmless and innocent disease ; the popular impression that the patient would die if the rash should extend entirely around the body is, of course, an error. It seems to have arisen from the fact that the rash rarely appears on both sides of the body at the same time. Yet instances have been known in which herpes zoster or " shingles " did appear on both sides at the same time, and did encircle the body so far as it is possible, yet the patients recovered. The object of treatment is simply to diminish the irritation caused by the rash and to prevent any aggravation of the difficulty by tearing open the vesicles. Herpes of the lips rarely requires any attention ; if it be recognized early it may be to a certain extent cut short by a free and repeated application of the tincture of camphor (spirits of camphor). Herpes occurring elsewhere may be treated by the application of some soothing ointment, such as vaseline, and may be dusted with powdered starch. When it occurs on the sides, as shingles, it becomes necessary to protect the blisters and the surrounding inflamed skin from the friction of the clothing. For this purpose a piece of soft rag may be smeared with vaseline, laid over the blistered surface, covered with flannel, and kept in place by narrow strips of adhesive plaster. When herpes occurs upon the genitals, it may be advisable to protect the inflamed surface in the same way by the use of soft rags covered with vaseline or soaked with sweet oil. There is no use in applying ointments or powders to hasten the disappearance of the eruption, since this must run its course. If herpes occurs often in the same patient, attention should be directed to the general health. Sometimes it becomes necessary to relieve habitual constipation ; at other times there is decided pallor ; if the appearance of the rash be preceded and followed by neuralgic pains in the side, benefit will be derived from the use of the following prescription : Sulphate of quinine, - - - Forty grains. Reduced iron, - - - - Twenty grains. Extract of nux vomica, - - Four grains. Mix and make twenty pills ; take one morning and night. In elderly people, especially, and sometimes in others, an attack of shingles is followed by obstinate neuralgia in the side, which persists for days or weeks after the rash is entirely healed. In this case it will be necessary to employ, in addition to the above prescription, some form of opium. The best form is a hypodermic injection of one-eighth of a grain of morphine, inserted under the skin of the painful part. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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