Shingles Shingles is also known as Herpes Zoster. The same virus that causes chicken pox causes shingles, varicella-zoster virus. This virus is unique in a way that it can lay latent in the body before becoming active. With or without having chicken pox, everyone is at risk for getting the varicella-zoster virus. (CDC, 2016)
Shingles is spread through lesions that develop as a side effect. It is not caused by direct contact, only by touching the open wound. Someone who has had chicken pox is more at risk than someone who has never had the varicella-zoster virus in their body. If someone who has never had chicken pox as child then later in adulthood comes in contact with one who has shingles, they may not develop shingles but get the varicella-zoster …show more content…
It can be given orally or intravenously. Some of these medications include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. There is only one vaccine in the United States to help prevent shingles. This vaccine is called Zostavax®. It has been used in the states since 2006. This vaccine helps reduce the risk and development of shingles by 51% and PHN by 67%. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy. “CDC recommends shingles vaccine for people age 60 years and older. Even people who have had shingles can receive the vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease.” (CDC, …show more content…
This pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). They have this pain in the area where the rash was present even after the rash is cleared. This pain can last for weeks, months, or even years after the shingles have been gone. (CDC,2015) States, “Shingles may lead to serious complications involving the eye. Very rarely, shingles can also lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death.” (SNOW, 2006)
My mother, who has had shingles, went to the doctors twice complaining about pain she thought she had a ear infection. The doctor told her she did not have a ear infection and sent her home without any reason to why she had pain. She later then developed a cold sore around her mouth, that then spread to a rash across her face. She was diagnosed with shingles. She still gets pain on her face where the shingles occurred.
Shingles can be a sneaky virus. Its scary to think that a virus you had as child, can lay dormant in the body for so long. Shingles can be avoided by getting vaccinated, avoiding contact with people who have rash like symptoms, and to live less stressfully in our older adult
Shingles is spread through lesions that develop as a side effect. It is not caused by direct contact, only by touching the open wound. Someone who has had chicken pox is more at risk than someone who has never had the varicella-zoster virus in their body. If someone who has never had chicken pox as child then later in adulthood comes in contact with one who has shingles, they may not develop shingles but get the varicella-zoster …show more content…
It can be given orally or intravenously. Some of these medications include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. There is only one vaccine in the United States to help prevent shingles. This vaccine is called Zostavax®. It has been used in the states since 2006. This vaccine helps reduce the risk and development of shingles by 51% and PHN by 67%. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy. “CDC recommends shingles vaccine for people age 60 years and older. Even people who have had shingles can receive the vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease.” (CDC, …show more content…
This pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). They have this pain in the area where the rash was present even after the rash is cleared. This pain can last for weeks, months, or even years after the shingles have been gone. (CDC,2015) States, “Shingles may lead to serious complications involving the eye. Very rarely, shingles can also lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death.” (SNOW, 2006)
My mother, who has had shingles, went to the doctors twice complaining about pain she thought she had a ear infection. The doctor told her she did not have a ear infection and sent her home without any reason to why she had pain. She later then developed a cold sore around her mouth, that then spread to a rash across her face. She was diagnosed with shingles. She still gets pain on her face where the shingles occurred.
Shingles can be a sneaky virus. Its scary to think that a virus you had as child, can lay dormant in the body for so long. Shingles can be avoided by getting vaccinated, avoiding contact with people who have rash like symptoms, and to live less stressfully in our older adult