Hammerling: Know the facts about shingles

Roughly a million patients per year in the United States develop an infection of shingles. Approximately 1 in 3 individuals will experience shingles during their lifetime.

Shingles is a common, painful rash that can occur on one side of the body on the skin. Shingles also can be referred to as Varicella Zoster or Herpes Zoster, which is the virus that causes chicken pox.

If a patient has had chickenpox, then the virus will remain in the body in a dormant or inactive stage. Once the virus becomes active again you may get shingles.

Risk factors that can increase a patient’s chance of getting shingles is: Increasing age, immunocompromised, trauma and stress.

Many people ask, “what does shingles look like or feel like?”

Shingles can present in several ways including symptoms such as fever, headache, chills or an upset stomach. Some patients experience complications that include pneumonia, blindness, problems with hearing, brain inflammation or death.

Usually the rash can occur as a tingling sensation localized in one area of the body referred to as a dermatome. Later the area can develop an area of blisters that can be painful.

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The painful and blistering rash can be mild, moderate or severe and occurs in the following locations: Face, neck, chest, back, arms and legs.

The shingles rash on the skin can last up to a month, but the pain can last for several months or years. The pain that occurs after a shingles infection is better known as post herpetic neuralgia.

Most patients recover from the nerve pain of shingles as the rash heals. Some patients describe the pain as being anywhere from mild to severe and debilitating, presenting afterward as a sharp, stabbing, deep pain or itching.

What happens if you get shingles or can it be prevented?

If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms listed above, see your physician immediately. If involvement on the face occurs, sometimes a visit to an eye doctor is recommended, especially if blistering occurs on the tip of the nose or around the eye.

If diagnosed early enough — within 2-3 days — then treatment of the herpes zoster infection is with Valtrex or Famvir. The purpose of these oral anti-viral medications is to decrease the amount of viral shedding and decreases the amount of time of the infection.

Treatment for the pain of shingles occurring after the infection is treated with pain relievers or anti-depressants.

There is a shingles vaccine now for patients names, ZOSTAVAX. It is approved for adults 50 years of age and older.

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You should not get ZOSTAVAX if you: Are allergic to any of its ingredients: are allergic to gelatin or neomycin; have a weakened immune system (for example, an immune deficiency, leukemia, lymphoma or HIV/AIDS); take high doses of steroids by injection or by mouth; are pregnant or plan to get pregnant.

You should not get ZOSTAVAX to prevent chickenpox. Children should not get ZOSTAVAX.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the vaccine has been approved for those as young as 50, but there is no recommendation for routine use by those under 60, because there are no long-term studies showing how long the shot remains effective in people ages 50 to 59.

There is evidence that the vaccine can be effective for up to five years in the older age bracket.

“Protection beyond five years is uncertain,” the CDC says in its fact sheet on the vaccine. “Therefore, adults receiving the vaccine before age 60 years might not be protected when their risks for shingles and its complications are greatest.”

According to Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, of Tepas Healthcare in Melbourne, “Shingles is a preventative disease which is important for patients to understand. They can significantly reduce their chances of getting a potentially debilitating disease by just receiving a a single shot.”

She also states that if you get shingles, then you can still get the vaccine, but need to wait six months.

That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated.

Susan R. Hammerling, PA, MPAS, DFAAPA, works at Florida Dermatology Associates of Suntree.