Take Charge of Your Health - Shingles Alert
Why is it called shingles? 'Cuz you want to jump off the roof!
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Shingles Alert
In the United States there are over 1 million cases of shingles reported each year! Even so, there is a lot of confusion about what it is, how you get it and what to do to prevent it.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common condition caused by the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster) reactivating after years of lying dormant in the nerve tissue of the body. You must have had the chickenpox virus at some point in your life to develop shingles. Today, in the United States, nearly 1 out of 3 people over 60 develop shingles and one in two over the age of 80 are afflicted. Anyone who has had a loved one suffer with shingles knows how debilitating and painful it can be.
As the virus reactivates, it causes a rash of blisters on the skin that does not cross to the other side of your body. While the rash lasts for only a few weeks, the pain can sometimes last for months. Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and reduces the chances of complications. Vaccines are now available that help reduce the risk of shingles. Even if you have had shingles in the past, current vaccination helps prevent a recurrence.
Those most at risk for getting shingles are people:
Over the age of 50,
Worn down by stress or poor health,
With a weak immune system, or
Experiencing trauma
Typical symptoms may include feeling tired, feverish, having a headache or stomach upset for one or two days and the skin can feel itchy, tingly or painful…then an strange rash appears only on one side of the body. Patches of red dots on the skin usually present around the waist, from the spine to the abdomen, but can occur on the face or neck. Over several days the rash develops into fluid-filled blisters accompanied by uncomfortable shooting pain, burning and extreme sensitivity that can last even longer than the usual 7-10 days before the blisters scab over and heal.
While there is no cure, shingles can be treated with prescription medications that help to shorten the infection and reduce the risk of complications. Anti-viral medications may help ease discomfort and reduce the duration of the symptoms, but to be effective they must be started at the onset of symptoms. Over-the-counter pain medications may also provide some relief. Consult with your physician if you think you may have shingles or an unusual rash of any kind.
While shingles are not contagious, a person with shingles can pass the virus to anyone who is not immune to chickenpox, i.e. people who have never had chicken pox or have been vaccinated against it. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. If infected the person will develop chicken pox, not shingles!
There are currently two shingles vaccines on the market. The older shingles vaccine, Zostavax, is given as a one-time injection and contains a live virus. It is not recommended for anyone with a compromised immune system. The newer shingles vaccine, Shingrix is believed to be safer, is nearly twice as effective and is also longer-lasting. The Shingrix vaccine requires two shots given 2-6 months apart. If Shingrix is not currently available in your area, it is wise to get on a waiting list at your local pharmacy or doctor’s office.