- Shingles is a painful disease that can have serious and long-lasting complications.
- Caused by - The reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.
- High risk groups – Adults aged 50 and above.
- By age 50, most adults will have the VZV dormant in their nervous system, and may reactivate with advancing age.
- As people age increases, the strength of the immune response to infection decreases, increasing the risk of developing shingles.
- Symptoms - Shingles rashes often flared up as blisters, very similar to chicken pox and could occur in a linear distribution on one side of the body.
- The pain is often described as aching, burning, stabbing or shock-like.
- Following the rash, a person can also experience post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-lasting nerve pain that can last weeks or months and can occasionally persist for several years.
- PHN is the most common complication of shingles, occurring in 5-30% of all shingles cases depending on the individual’s age.
- Prevention - A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent shingles and its complications.
- Treatment - Antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of shingles, especially if started early.
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