Hmm, “the shingle tingle” sounds like a fun new dance step, but anyone unlucky enough to have suffered from shingles will tell you that the tingling sensation that is produced is only half the story!
Shingles is typically thought of as an once-in-a-lifetime (miserable) experience. But wait, shingles can reoccur, especially in people with compromised immune systems! Did you know that 9 out of 10 adults are at risk of developing shingles? In South Africa alone, statistics indicate that approximately 102 000 people are diagnosed with shingles annually. Interesting, right?
What is shingles?
After a case of chickenpox, the virus that causes the disease – varicella zoster virus – is never fully eliminated by the body and lies dormant in the central nervous system. It causes no harm unless it is reactivated by certain triggers. Once unleashed as shingles, the herpes zoster virus may plant seeds of destruction in some of the body’s blood vessels which could take years to wreak havoc.
What does it look like?
The shingles rash can be a distinctive cluster of fluid-filled blisters. They can occur anywhere around the body but are most often found in a band around one side of the waist. This explains the word “shingles”, which comes from the Latin word, belt. The next most common location is on one side of the forehead or around the eye.
Are there any symptoms before the rash?
The first symptoms of shingles appear 1 to 5 days before the rash. These early warning signs are usually felt in the location where the rash will develop and include itching, burning, tingling and pain.
While the localised pain and rash are the tell-tale signs of shingles, other symptoms may include fever, chills, headache and an upset stomach.
Remember that small blisters that appear on the lips and on the side of the mouth may be cold sores, sometimes also called fever blisters. These are not shingles, but are instead caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Are you at risk and is it contagious?
Anyone who ever had Chickenpox is at risk, but the risk increases with age. Some possible triggers include:
• Ageing – shingles is 10 times more likely to occur in people over 60 than in children under 10.
• Diseases – certain diseases which compromise the immune system such as certain cancers, or HIV and AIDS.
• Stress or trauma.
• Certain medications - Immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection as well as prolonged steroid use, could put you at risk.
• Children whose mothers had chickenpox late in their pregnancy or had chickenpox in infancy themselves.
Shingles is contagious but, not in the way you might think. Your shingles will not trigger an outbreak of shingles in another person, but it can sometimes cause chickenpox in a child. People, who’ve never had chickenpox, or the vaccine to prevent it, can pick up the virus by direct contact with the open sores of shingles. So, keep the shingles rash covered and avoid contact with infants, as well as pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
As if the fiery rash and painful blisters of shingles were not punishment enough, the average patient who suffers a resurgence of the dormant chickenpox virus has a higher risk of heart attack or mild stroke two decades or more after the blisters and the rash recede. According to the journal Neurology, the herpes zoster virus may be an underappreciated contributor to cardiovascular disease!
The good news is that a shingles-specific vaccine, Zostavax, has been available in South Africa since last year. In a large trial, this vaccine cut the risk of developing shingles by half. The vaccine won’t treat a current outbreak of shingles, but it can help to prevent future attacks.
Early treatment may help to deter long-term complications, so, call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of shingles.
Source: www.webmd.com, www.health24.com, www.topsanews.co.za, www.iol.co.za, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.naturalnews.com, www.medicalnewstoday.com, latimes.com, canoe.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
