News Flash: Your Shingles Knowledge May Be Incomplete!
Shingles is one of the most painful conditions a person can suffer from. Anyone who has ever had the chickenpox can be at risk for developing shingles later in life as it’s caused by the same virus. The virus hides out for many years around the base of the brain, at the spinal cord. Later in life, it can become reactivated as shingles. Doctors do not know the reasons this virus sometimes reactivates. It travels through the nerve pathways to the skin and causes the painful condition of shingles.
Those over the age of fifty are more likely to suffer from the condition. Individuals who have a weakened immune system may be more vulnerable to having the virus reactivate, along with those who are under tremendous loads of stress.
Thankfully, there is a shingles vaccine that can protect individuals from developing this condition. The vaccine protects a person for around five years and then it needs to be readministered, for ongoing protection. Those who begin to develop symptoms of shingles should go to their doctor immediately. Although it cannot be stopped once a person has developed symptoms, prompt treatment can help to lessen the length and severity of the condition.
Symptoms of Shingles
It is essential individuals understand the symptoms shingles can cause so they will know when to seek their doctor. Regrettably, this condition seems to appear almost overnight, with very little warning. The following are some of the common symptoms of shingles.
- A strange, tingly feeling under the skin
- A raised, blistery rash on one side of the body or face
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Fever
- Moderate to severe pain where the rash occurs
Although many people think they are knowledgeable regarding shingles, there are many misconceptions and myths being spread. When faced with true facts, individuals are often shocked at how little they know about shingles. The more a person is educated about the condition, the better equipped they will be to protect themselves.
Questions and Answers
Q: Can Children and Teens Develop Shingles?
A: Although it is rare, children and teens can develop shingles, though most are able to avoid this condition due to the chickenpox vaccine given to them in childhood.
Q: Is Shingles a Rare Condition?
A: Although many people think of shingles as being a rare condition, approximately one-third of Americans will eventually develop the condition.
Q: Is Shingles Contagious?
A: Many people erroneously think shingles is not contagious, but this is not entirely true. Although shingles cannot be passed to another person, those infected with this condition can pass on chickenpox to the unvaccinated.
Q: Isn't shingles the same thing as chickenpox?
A: While it is true they both come from the same virus, the two conditions are not the same. Chickenpox causes itchy blisters all over the body but goes away within a week. Shingles causes a breakout in one single area and can last a month.
Q: How Long Does the Pain Last?
A: Surprisingly, many people experience the pain of shingles for over a year and for some, the pain becomes chronic.
Q: Why Can't Shingles Be Treated?
A: Many people mistakenly believe there is no treatment for shingles. This is not true, as there are prescription antivirals and pain medications that can help.
Q: Why Can't a Person Get Shingles More Than Once?
A: It is a myth that a person cannot get shingles more than once. Although it is rare, some people do develop the condition more than once.
Q: Can Shingles Make a Person Go Blind?
A: Because shingles can occur just about anywhere on the body or face, the eyes are not without risk. These shingles can lead to scarring and blindness.
Q: Can the Rash Get Infected?
A: When the shingles rash becomes severe, infections can sometimes set in. A bacterial skin infection needs to be properly treated with antibiotics.
Q: Can Shingles Hurt the Brain?
A: When shingles occurs on the face, it can sometimes lead to swelling in the brain. Though it is rare, this inflammation can sometimes cause strokes or meningitis.
