Shingles or Herpes Zoster is a disease that is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. Outbreaks cause a painful blistering rash that can last for several weeks and be very miserable.
Varicella zoster is the same virus that causes chickenpox in children, so if you had chickenpox as a child, you are already carrying the virus that causes shingles. Studies have shown that 99% of Americans over the age of 40 have had chickenpox.
Outbreak of Shingles
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Shingles will most commonly occur on your trunk, back, or flank. However, it can also break out on your face and extend into the mucous membranes of your mouth or nose. Outbreaks are even more serious when they involve your eye.
Risk of Shingles Complications and more Severe Symptoms
When you have an episode of shingles there is also a risk of complications such as infection or post herpetic neuralgia.
Post Herpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is nerve damage that occurs following a shingles outbreak. It can cause neuropathic nerve pain that is severe and can last for several months or in rare cases even longer.
Shingles can Cause Severe and Devastating Symptoms that last for Many Months
Shingle Vaccine
In recent years scientists have developed a shingles vaccine that can reduce your risk of shingles.
Clinical trials have shown that it lowers your risk of developing shingles by 50% and reduces your risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia by 67%.
Recommended by the CDC
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that everyone over the age of 60 get the shingles vaccine and it is approved by the FDA for anyone over the age of 50.
The Vaccine is not recommended for people
with weakened immune systems such as:
• People with HIV/AIDS
• People taking steroid medications such as prednisone
• People being treated for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation
• People with severe allergies to glycerin or other ingredients
Little Risk for Healthy People
There is little risk for healthy people when getting the vaccine. The most common side effects include tenderness pain and swelling at the injection site and possible headache.
Not Foolproof
There is a chance that even after receiving the shingles vaccination you will still experience an episode of shingles and possibly post herpetic neuralgia. However, after the vaccination they will likely be less severe and not last as long as they would have without the shingles vaccine.
You can read more about the shingles vaccine at the U.S. government website Center for Disease Control.
Tomorrow we will talk about discitis
Don't let pain knock you out.
Discover more about shingles at Shingles Pain must be Treated Immediately to Avoid Complications.