Symptoms of 'pins-and-needles' disease as 'cases are on the rise' in UK

Symptoms of 'pins-and-needles' disease as 'cases are on the rise' in UK Younger people aren’t expecting this problem, and shouldn't brush it off Brits are being warned not to ignore any "burning" or "pins-and-needles" feeling on their skin. It comes as cases of shingles are reportedly on the rise in the UK, according to the Royal College of GPs Research and Surveillance Centre. The virus, mostly seen in older people, is said to now be cropping up more among younger adults, too. A doctor says the earliest clues can show up before any rash is visible, when many people may wrongly assume it’s nothing serious. Dr Alexander Joshue Acosta Peñafiel, a medical consultant who has treated many shingles patients, says moving fast can be the difference between a quick recovery and pain that drags on. He warns that people often delay because they’re waiting for the classic rash - but by then valuable time may have been lost. The key message, he says, is to act on the first hint that something is off, especially if symptoms appear on only one side of the body. One of the biggest red flags, he explains, is an odd sensation that creeps in days ahead of the outbreak. He said: "Days before a rash develops, a burning or tingling sensation may occur." He says that some people describe numbness or the feeling of ants crawling on the skin, while others notice the area becoming unusually sensitive or itchy, even though it looks normal in the mirror. Research suggests that almost one in three people will at some point in their lives get shingles. It is essentially the "reactivation" of the chickenpox virus most people get when they are children. Dr Alexander said: "This virus, varicella-zoster, never goes away completely after an individual has had chickenpox during his or her childhood. It remains dormant in nerve tissues for years or even decades until it is reactivated." What exactly triggers the virus to switch on isn’t fully understood, but doctors have long linked flare-ups to the immune system taking a knock. A weakened immune system is a known factor, while stress, ageing and illness are also commonly mentioned as potential triggers. How is shingles treated? The NHS website reports that treatment for shingles depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you're at risk of complications. Some patients with only a mild rash may not need treatment, while others may be offered antiviral medication to help speed recovery. Dr Alexander claims that, in those cases, medication is "most effective" if started within 72 hours of the rash appearing. He said: "I had one patient who began taking anti-virals on day one and by day seven he was normal, and I had another patient who waited ten days and now has nerve pain." If you have shingles, there are things you can do to help with the symptoms. These include: - taking paracetamol to ease pain - keeping the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection - wearing loose-fitting clothing - using a cool compress a few times a day It can take up to four weeks for the shingles rash to heal. Your skin can still be painful for weeks after the rash has gone, but it usually gets better over time, according to the NHS.