What Is Shingles?
What Is Shingles?
What Natural Techniques Can You Use To Minimize And Prevent Future Shingles Attacks?
What Natural Techniques Can You Use To Minimize And Prevent Future Shingles Attacks?
What Is Shingles?
What Is Shingles?
Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Most people get chickenpox as a child. Although chickenpox is usually a benign illness that last for only a few days to a week, the virus that causes chickenpox never actually leaves our body. It goes into a dormant phase where it causes no disease. However later in life, typically over the age of 50, the virus "re-activates" and causes shingles. Shingles develops only in people who have had chicken pox. You cannot get shingles unless you have had chickenpox sometime in your past. Shingles can also occur in younger people with weakened immune systems as long as they have had chickenpox in their past.
Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Most people get chickenpox as a child. Although chickenpox is usually a benign illness that last for only a few days to a week, the virus that causes chickenpox never actually leaves our body. It goes into a dormant phase where it causes no disease. However later in life, typically over the age of 50, the virus "re-activates" and causes shingles. Shingles develops only in people who have had chicken pox. You cannot get shingles unless you have had chickenpox sometime in your past. Shingles can also occur in younger people with weakened immune systems as long as they have had chickenpox in their past.
What Causes Shingles?
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus is also called herpes zoster virus or simply, the zoster virus. You can only develop shingles if you have had chickenpox in your past. Chickenpox itself is a viral infection with the varicella zoster virus, typically during childhood.
What Causes Shingles?
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus is also called herpes zoster virus or simply, the zoster virus. You can only develop shingles if you have had chickenpox in your past. Chickenpox itself is a viral infection with the varicella zoster virus, typically during childhood.
What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles?
What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles?
Why Does Shingles Appear Mostly On One Side Or In One Area Of Your Body?
Why Does Shingles Appear Mostly On One Side Or In One Area Of Your Body?
Shingles is localized to one side of the body or another because of where the varicella zoster virus resides. The virus resides in the certain nerves. The human body has two sets of nerves, one set on the right side and one set on the left side. Since the varicella zoster virus infects only one nerve (or one group of nerves anatomically next to each other), it is localized to one side of your body.
Very rarely does the shingles rash occur on both sides of the body, and this is because shingles has infected two sets of nerves. This happens in people with weakened immune systems.
Do You Always Get The Typical Rash If You
Have Shingles?
Rash If You
Have Shingles?
Do You Always Get The Typical Rash If You Have Shingles?
It is possible to have shingles without the rash but this is quite uncommon. The pain however is no less severe. You can still develop postherpetic neuralgia without the rash. Postherpectic neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome that last months to years from the shingles disease process. The symptoms of shingles will always include some kind of pain.
It is possible to have shingles without the rash but this is quite uncommon. The pain however is no less severe. You can still develop postherpetic neuralgia without the rash. Postherpectic neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome that last months to years from the shingles disease process. The symptoms of shingles will always include some kind of pain.
Can You Have More Than One Area Of Blisters?
One Area Of Blisters?
The shingles rash is ofter described as groups or clusters of blisters that are painful. The groups will follow the dermatome which is the area of skin innervated by the infected nerve. You can have different groups or areas of blisters along that particular dermatome.
How Long Does A Shingles
Outbreak Last?
The symptoms of shingles can last from two to six weeks, with most cases lasting three to five weeks
Who Is At Risk Of Developing Shingles?
Those who have had chickenpox (usually as a child) are risk of developing shingles as shingles is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus that causes chickenpox. You cannot get shingles if you never had chickenpox. Many people are unaware of their chickenpox status as it tends to be a childhood illness.
Shingles tends to occur in older adults. This is because our immune systems tend to become weaker with age. There is decreased production of B cells and T cells as we get older. This process of diminishing immune system function with aging is known as immunosenescence. According to the American CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one in three Americans will develop shingles.
Having a weakened immune system also increases the risk of shingles at any age. People with HIV/AIDS are at increased risks. So are people who are on immunosuppressants (medication that suppresses the immune system). People who are being treated for autoimmune disease as well as those who have received organ transplants are typically on immunosuppressants that are known to weaken your immune system.
Why Doesn't Having Chickenpox Earlier In Life Provide Immunity Against Having Shingles
Later In Life?
Immunity Against
Having Shingles
Later In Life?
How Is Shingles Diagnosed?
Most cases of shingles are diagnosed clinically. What this means is that a doctor can simply diagnose shingles by taking a medical history of your symptoms and identifying the rash. The rash should be located on only one side of your body. Rarely is testing needed. If testing should be required, the way to confirm the diagnosis is to check for presence of the varicella zoster virus particles in the rash. Samples of the scabs and the fluid filled blisters are sent to the lab for virus detection. Lab results usually take a few days to come back.
How Is Shingles Treated?
What Can You Expect If You
Go To The Hospital?
Go To The Hospital?
Most cases shingles do not require hospitalization or a visit to the hospital. Shingles can be managed as at outpatient with the appropriate antiviral medication and pain medication. Usually an initial doctor's visit, prescription for antiviral and pain medication, and a follow up are all that are needed. There are certain complications of shingles that can occur that might require hospitalization but these are not common.
What Are The Complications Of Shingles?
Shingles is not without its potential complications. The most common complication is the development of chronic pain even after the rash has cleared up. This chronic pain syndrome is called postherpetic neuralgia. This can require pain management specialist to be involved in your care. Approximately 15% of people with shingles can develop postherpetic neuralgia. This painful condition typically last 1 to 3 months, but in some people it can last for years. The accompanying conditions of depression, anxiety, and insomnia can only exacerbate the pain syndrome altogether.
Another complication of shingles that can have grave consequences is ocular involvement, or that is, when shingles affects the eye. This can occur when the shingles rash is present on the face. This complication can cause permanent visual impairment as well as blindness. This is a true eye emergency and requires immediate evaluation by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) and sometimes hospitalization with intravenous antiviral medication.
Other less common complications include a secondary bacterial infection of the skin, especially if the affected person is repeatedly scratching the rash. Rarely, the varicella zoster virus can infect the brain resulting in brain inflammation. This process when shingles affects the brain is known as encephalitis and can potentially cause severe disability and death. Lung inflammation can also occur but this too is very rare.
Is Shingles Contagious?
The shingles process of herpes zoster virus reactivation is not contagious, but the virus itself is. In other words, you cannot give another person shingles but you can give them the varicella zoster virus and chickenpox disease if they have never had chickenpox in the past. This may sound confusing as shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus. To reiterate, shingles is not contagious, but the varicella zoster virus is contagious and can cause chickenpox in a "chickenpox virgin."
The virus is typically spread from direct contact of the blisters on the affected person's rash. These fluid filled blisters are full of the varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox and later shingles with reactivation.
To prevent shingles spreading the zoster virus to "chickenpox virgins," the blisters should be covered up with a loose dressing, and direct contact of the blisters to other persons should be strictly avoided. This includes avoiding contact sports, and sharing towels and bed sheets. Again, this is necessary only if the other persons have never had chickenpox. Since you wouldn't necessarily know the chickenpox status of persons beyond your household, it's best to assume other people haven't had chickenpox. The person with shingles doesn't necessarily need to keep oneself completely physically isolated, just make sure no one else touches your blisters, including yourself (with your hands and fingers). Copious and thorough hand washing is a must. Once the blisters are crusted over, they are not contagious any more.
Using an abundance of caution is particularly indicated if the other people are immunocompromised in any way. This includes persons who are HIV positive, organ transplant patients, patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer, infants, and pregnant women who have never had the chickenpox.
Can You Have More Than One Area Of Blisters?
The shingles rash is ofter described as groups or clusters of blisters that are painful. The groups will follow the dermatome which is the area of skin innervated by the infected nerve. You can have different groups or areas of blisters along that particular dermatome.
How Long Does A Shingles Outbreak Last?
The symptoms of shingles can last from two to six weeks, with most cases lasting three to five weeks.
Who Is At Risk Of Developing Shingles?
Why Doesn't Having Chickenpox Earlier In Life Provide Immunity Against Having Shingles Later In Life?
Having Shingles Later In Life?
How Is Shingles Diagnosed?
How Is Shingles Treated?
Most cases shingles do not require hospitalization or a visit to the hospital. Shingles can be managed as at outpatient with the appropriate antiviral medication and pain medication. Usually an initial doctor's visit, prescriptions for antiviral and pain medication, and a follow up are all that are needed. There are certain complications of shingles that can occur that might require hospitalization but these are not common.
What Are The Complications Of Shingles?
When Is It Safe To Return To Work If You
Have Shingles?
Work If You
Have Shingles?
If you are a person that works from home, then you shouldn't need more than a few days off to visit your doctor and get diagnosed, fill your antiviral and pain medicine prescriptions, and rest for a couple of days. This can vary depending on how intense your symptoms are, your age, and your comorbidities.
If you have to go to work in person, you should also be able to return to work in a few days as long as you can keep the rash covered with a dressing. You don't want to have the blisters exposed to other people. If you know for a fact that your coworkers have had chickenpox, the you don't need to be as concerned but its still good practice to keep the blisters covered as you don't know whom else you may meet at work. If you want to be absolutely safe, you should return to work after the last blister has scabbed over. This typically takes about 7-10 days. If you are unable to keep the blisters covered (i.e., facial involvement), you should also wait the necessary 7 to 10 days.
Is Shingles Contagious? And If So, How Can I Prevent The Virus From Spreading?
The shingles process of herpes zoster virus reactivation is not contagious, but the virus itself is. In other words, you cannot give another person shingles but you can give them the varicella zoster virus and chickenpox disease if they have never had chickenpox in the past. This may sound confusing as shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus. To reiterate, shingles is not contagious, but the varicella zoster virus is contagious and can cause chickenpox in a "chickenpox virgin."
The virus is typically spread from direct contact of the blisters on the affected person's rash. These fluid filled blisters are full of the varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox and later shingles with reactivation.
To prevent shingles spreading the zoster virus to "chickenpox virgins," the blisters should be covered up with a loose dressing, and direct contact of the blisters to other persons should be strictly avoided. This includes avoiding contact sports, and sharing towels and bed sheets. Again, this is necessary only if the other persons have never had chickenpox. Since you wouldn't necessarily know the chickenpox status of persons beyond your household, it's best to assume other people haven't had chickenpox. The person with shingles doesn't necessarily need to keep oneself completely physically isolated, just make sure no one else touches your blisters, including yourself (with your hands and fingers). Copious and thorough hand washing is a must. Once the blisters are crusted over, they are not contagious any more.
Using an abundance of caution is particularly indicated if the other people are immunocompromised in any way. This includes persons who are HIV positive, organ transplant patients, patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer, infants, and pregnant women who have never had the chickenpox.
When Is It Safe To Return To Work If You Have Shingles?
If you are a person that works from home, then you shouldn't need more than a few days off to visit your doctor and get diagnosed, fill your antiviral and pain medicine prescriptions, and rest for a couple of days. This can vary depending on how intense your symptoms are, your age, and your comorbidities.
If you have to go to work in person, you should also be able to return to work in a few days as long as you can keep the rash covered with a dressing. You don't want to have the blisters exposed to other people. If you know for a fact that your coworkers have had chickenpox, the you don't need to be as concerned but its still good practice to keep the blisters covered as you don't know whom else you may meet at work. If you want to be absolutely safe, you should return to work after the last blister has scabbed over. This typically takes about 7-10 days. If you are unable to keep the blisters covered (i.e., facial involvement), you should also wait the necessary 7 to 10 days.
Is A Vaccine Available To Prevent Shingles?
Is A Vaccine Available To Prevent Shingles?
What Is Zostavax And Why Was It Taken Off The Market?
Zostavax was another vaccine to help prevent shingles. This vaccine was different than the Shingrix which is a recombinant vaccine. A recombinant vaccine injects proteins into the human body to elicit an immune response without getting the disease itself. It is not an mRNA vaccine. It is called recombinant because it re-combines genetic material from the original virus with other genetic material to form the protein. It is these proteins that are injected during the vaccination process.
The Zostavax vaccine however, was an attenuated live virus which means that the vaccine contained actual virus particles. The virus particles were attenuated or damaged such that they couldn't cause the disease but they could still elicit a response from the immune system as if you had the disease. This vaccine was subject to over a thousand law suits claiming that the Zostavax vaccine actually causing people to get shingles. Even though these law suits were eventually dismissed, the pharmaceutical company (Merck) took the vaccine off the market in late 2020. Shingrix is the only vaccine option for Americans.
Does The Chickenpox Vaccine Protect You Against Shingles?
What Is Zostavax And Why Was
It Taken Off
The Market?
It Taken Off
The Market?
The effectiveness of the chicken pox vaccine ranges anywhere from 82 to 92 % against chickenpox. This means that some people who get the chickenpox vaccine will still develop chickenpox. While the chickenpox vaccine does provide protection against chicken pox and therefore subsequent shingles, the protection is not 100% against the initial chickenpox infection. Many people cannot remember if they have had chickenpox as a child, and so it is recommended to get the shingles vaccine, even if you have had the chickenpox vaccine in the past. However, if one is 100% sure that he or she never had chickenpox, then avoiding the shingles vaccine is reasonable.
Zostavax was another vaccine to help prevent shingles. This vaccine was different than the Shingrix which is a recombinant vaccine. A recombinant vaccine injects proteins into the human body to elicit an immune response without getting the disease itself. It is not an mRNA vaccine. It is called recombinant because it re-combines genetic material from the original virus with other genetic material to form the protein. It is these proteins that are injected during the vaccination process.
The Zostavax vaccine however, was an attenuated live virus which means that the vaccine contained actual virus particles. The virus particles were attenuated or damaged such that they couldn't cause the disease but they could still elicit a response from the immune system as if you had the disease. This vaccine was subject to over a thousand law suits claiming that the Zostavax vaccine actually causing people to get shingles. Even though these law suits were eventually dismissed, the pharmaceutical company (Merck) took the vaccine off the market in late 2020. Shingrix is the only vaccine option for Americans.
If You Get The Shingles Vaccine, Does This Mean You're 100% Protected From Getting Shingles?
From Getting Shingles?
Does The Chickenpox Vaccine Protect You Against Shingles?
No, you are not protected 100%. In people ages 50 to 69, the effectiveness of the shingles vaccine is 97%. For people 70 years old and older, the effectiveness is 91%. Breakthrough cases do occur, but the intensity of the symptoms of shingles including the development of a painful rash and postherpetic neuralgia is decreased.
If You Get The Shingles Vaccine, Does This Mean You're 100% Protected
From Getting Shingles?
Does This Mean You're 100% Protected
From Getting Shingles?
No, you are not protected 100%. In people ages 50 to 69, the effectiveness of the shingles vaccine is 97%. For people 70 years old and older, the effectiveness is 91%. Breakthrough cases do occur, but the intensity of the symptoms of shingles including the development of a painful rash and postherpetic neuralgia is decreased.
What Serious Side Effects Would You Watch For After Getting The Shingrix Vaccine?
If You Have Previously Received The Zostavax Vaccine, How Long Should You Wait Before Getting The Shingrix Vaccine?
A minimum of 8 weeks is recommended by the American CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) between the Zostavax vaccine (which was removed from the market in November 2020) and the Shingrix vaccine.
Do You Need To Stay Away From Children, Pregnant Women, Cancer Patients, Or Other People With A Weakened Immune System After You Get The Shingrix Vaccine?
No. You are not contagious after you received the Shingrix vaccine for shingles.
Yes, there are ways to lessen the risk of developing shingles or developing a shingles recurrence. These are particularly important if you have a weak immune system. Click on one of the buttons on this page to learn how.
Who Should Be Vaccinated With Shingrix?
What Are The Vaccine Side Effects?
The most common side effects of the Shingrix vaccine are
• Redness, Swelling, and Pain
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Shivering
• Upset Stomach
There is always the possibility of more serious side effects such anaphylaxis which is a severe allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis is not unique the the shingles vaccine. Another serious reaction is Guillain-Barre syndrome which is the development of an autoimmune condition that results in impaired nerve function with progressive muscle weakness. This too is not unique to the shingles vaccine. Both side effects are potentially serious and life threatening, but fortunately both are very rare.
If You Have Previously Received The Zostavax Vaccine, How Long Should You Wait Before Getting The Shingrix Vaccine?
A minimum of 8 weeks is recommended by the American CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) between the Zostavax vaccine (which was removed from the market in November 2020) and the Shingrix vaccine.
Do You Need To Stay Away From Children, Pregnant Women, Cancer Patients, Or Other People With A Weakened Immune System After You Get The Shingrix Vaccine?
No. You are not contagious after you received the Shingrix vaccine for shingles.
Are There Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System To Help Lessen The Chances Of Developing Shingles?
Yes, there are ways to lessen the risk of developing shingles or developing a shingles recurrence. These are particularly important if you have a weak immune system. Click on one of the buttons on this page to learn how.
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