A doctor has issued a warning to look out for an unusual symptom on the tip of the nose that could signal a virus on the face that has the potential to cause blindness. Doctor Joe Whittington urged people to be wary of a rash at the end of the nose.
According to Dr Whittington, who is best known online as Dr Joe MD, this is a sign of a specific type of shingles.
“Not your everyday shingles”, the strain – called herpes zoster ophthalmicus – affects the eyes.
It is a “medical emergency” and without treatment can lead to scarring, vision loss and blindness.
Dr Whittington alerted his almost two million TikTok followers to the condition via a video posted to the social media platform.
He spoke in response to a woman’s video in which she explained how she was infected with the virus, presenting with a red and droopy eye, and a rash on one side of her face.
“Listen to them, this is all caused by stress,” she said.
Replying to her post, Dr Whittingon said: “This is not your everyday shingles. This is something called herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
“And this is when the virus that causes shingles affects the face, you can involve the eye.
“This is because when it involves the eye, it can cause scarring, vision loss and even blindness.”
He warned that a rash on the nose is one warning sign of infection.
“One red flag is a rash to the tip of the nose, which means there’s involvement of something called the nasociliary nerve, which feeds both the nose and the eye,” he said.
This symptom is also known in the medical field as Hutchinson’s sign.
Dr Whittington added: “This is a medical emergency, but early antiviral treatment can help prevent complications. Stay safe, guys.”
Other symptoms to look for include:
- Pain and tingling of the forehead
- Blisters on the forehead and nose
- Eye ache and redness
- Light sensitivity
- Eyelid swelling
If you suspect you have herpes zoster ophthalmicus you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.
What is this condition caused by?
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes shingles.
After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.
It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someone’s immune system is weakened.
This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.
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