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Show I Shingles may i be dangerous I The following is one of a I series of articles furnished by ! the Utah State Medical Asso- elation in cooperation with this I newspaper. I Shingles is caused by a virr us. The virus is very closely I related to that which causes ' chicken pox. The disease, not J rare, is . found in most age I groups but is most important I in the elderly. ' At each level along the ner- ! vous system, one nerve comes I off to supply the right side I and another the left. The virus acts near the origin of the I nerve and the trouble extends ' all over the area supplied by that particular nerve. A rash I appears,-and one would be led I to believe this is a skin condi-I condi-I tion rather than a nerve in-J in-J volvement. I The disease begins abruptly, I starting with a burning pain J which may be located along any single nerve in the body. I The pain quite rapidly becomes I worse and within a period of three days the rash usually spreads over the area in patch-J patch-J es of redness with blisters. The I skin usually becomes very sen- sitive, at times so much to I that the patient cannot bear to ' have clothing touch it. The ! diagnosis is relatively easy to I make and most people suspect I it before they come to the doc-B doc-B tor's office. ! This condition does not res-I res-I pond to over-the-counter drugs I or ointments. It should have I the care and supervision of the family physician. In the ! younger age groups, this is . usually not a serious condition. I In the age group past 60 or I 65, this disease takes on great-B great-B er importance. The pain is ' such a nagging, severe one ! that the patient's general phy-I phy-I sical condition suffers. The patient becomes very suscept-B suscept-B ible to other infections such as pneumonia. |