Shingles is well-known as a disease that often occurs with aging and weakened immunity.
One of the most common misconceptions regarding shingles is the idea that if you have a healthy lifestyle, you won’t get shingles.
Of course, a healthy lifestyle will help boost your immune system, but that doesn’t make you immune to shingles.
Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus. This virus causes chickenpox in childhood and remains dormant in the body even following being cured. So, if you have had chickenpox as a child, you can get shingles at any time.
Another common misconception is that shingles is perceived as a geriatric disease because it mainly occurs in the elderly. In fact, the majority of shingles patients are elderly, and the risk of developing the disease increases with age, but recently, the incidence of young people is increasing due to stress. It also occurs frequently in patients with reduced immunity, taking immunosuppressive drugs, and cancer patients.
The initial symptoms are pain, itching, or tingling at the site where the rash will occur, followed by blisters and rashes forming in a row on one side of the face or body. Occasionally, a rash may appear on the side of the face and affect vision or cause vision loss. In rare cases, if the immune system is greatly weakened, the rash may spread more widely throughout the body and may resemble a chickenpox rash. Blisters usually scab following 7-10 days and disappear within 2-4 weeks.
Occasionally, shingles is considered a mild rash, but if left untreated, it can cause complications. According to the CDC, regarding 10 to 18% of people who experience shingles develop PHN, or postherpetic neuralgia. PHN is a complication that persists for months or years even following the skin lesion has improved. The elderly are more likely to suffer from PHN, and it is rare in young people under the age of 40. In addition, it can cause serious eye complications, including loss of vision, and, very rarely, pneumonia, hearing problems, encephalitis, or even death.
One of the biggest concerns regarding shingles is whether it is contagious. In conclusion, people who have never had chickenpox or who have never received the chickenpox vaccine can become contagious if they come in contact with the secretions from the blisters of a person with shingles. When they are transmitted, they cause chickenpox, not shingles, and later shingles can develop. Also, most people get shingles at least once in their lifetime, but rarely, more than once.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent shingles. Vaccination is recommended for anyone over the age of 50, 19 years of age or older, who are in the high-risk group, and it is also important to get adequate rest, eat a healthy diet, and manage stress. It is also helpful to avoid excessive drinking and keep your vitamin D levels between 60 and 100.
Dr. Thomas Horowitz / Hollywood CHA Hospital
