Shingles… Raising the Roof on This Debilitating Disease
by Margaret Minuth
April 2010
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV)— the same virus that causes chicken pox. The virus remains in the nerve cells of the body long after the chicken pox infection clears. Anyone who has recovered from chicken pox may develop shingles. More common in people 50 years or older, the disease is not limited to seniors. About two in ten people will develop shingles during their lifetime.
The virus stays dormant in the body until it is reactivated. Sometimes the virus is activated through stress or trauma, however, some research suggests that shingles can also run in families. Knowing your family history can allow you to be aware of the symptoms and effects of shingles. People who have immune-compromising medical conditions, such as cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and HIV or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs have a higher risk of developing shingles.
The most obvious symptom of shingles is pain accompanied by a rash. Often localized to one side of the face or body, the rash begins with small, red bumps, which eventually become blisters. About three to five days later, the blisters begin to scab. With a shingles outbreak, you may also experience other symptoms such as fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. Very rarely, shingles can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. The shingles virus is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, which is transmitted sexually.
With treatment the rash goes away, however, the pain can last longer. In some cases, the pain associated with shingles can last days, months, or years after the rash disappears. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people suffer from "post-herpatic neuralgia." To help with the pain your physician may suggest an over-the-counter medication. Medicated lotions or cool compresses may help reduce the pain and itching.
Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. It is important to see a physician as soon as possible to determine the best method of treatment for you. If you are treated early for shingles, there is a greater possibility for complete recovery and less pain. Your doctor also may prescribe steroids to help with the swelling and pain.
The CDC states, "Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, VZV, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chicken pox through direct contact with the rash." Should a person be exposed who hasn’t had chicken pox, that person would then develop chicken pox rather than shingles. The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. The disease is spread when the rash is in a blister phase but not before the blister appears, once the rash has developed a crust, or once the rash is gone even though the pain is still present. Those who have an outbreak should keep the rash covered and keep hands away from the rash — no scratching or touching the rash. If you have an outbreak and touch the rash, wash your hands often.
The CDC recommends the shingles vaccine for people age 60 and over, even if they have had prior episodes of shingles. Although there are some risks, the CDC states the risk of the shingles vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small. However, those who have weakened immune systems due to cancer, lymphoma or leukemia, or drugs that affect your immune system, HIV or AIDS and those who have had an allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or other components of the shingle vaccination should not get the vaccine. It’s important to discuss your risk factors with your physician so he or she may determine if the vaccine is appropriate for you.
As a result of shingles, serious health consequences can develop, and the risk or developing other problems rises after the age of 60. The vaccine may reduce the occurrence of shingles in older adults or at-risk families.
For more information on shingles, visit the CDC Web site at cdc.gov. For a referral to physicians in the Lee County area, call Central Carolina Hospital’s physician referral line at 800.483.6385.
Margaret Minuth is director of marketing and public relations at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, centralcarolinahospital.com.