What is Shingles?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a characterised by blisters and sharp burning nerve pain in the skin caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox).
95% of adults aged 50 years or older already have the virus that causes shingles. It can be reactivated at any time and the risk increases as the immune system naturally get weaker as we grow older.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles is typically a painful rash with blisters that form scabs within 7 days to 10 days. It normally takes 2 to 4 weeks for the skin to heal. More than 90% of people who develop shingles feel severe nerve pain and many describe the sensation as aching, burning, stabbing or like electric shocks. 1 to 5 days before the ash first appears, you may have pain, itching, tingling and numbness on an area of the skin where the rash will develop. The rash usually appears as a tripe of blisters on one side of the body, or sometimes on the face along a nerve path. It can develop on the arm, thigh, head – or even the eye or the ear. The most common locations are the chest and the abdomen. The symptoms can also include fever, headaches or feeling generally unwell.
What are some complications?
Shingles is a painful disease that can have serious and long-lasting complications. The most common condition is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) with severe pain in the healed area that can last from months up to years. PHN affects up to 20% of people over 50 years of age with shingles. Other complications include scarring, and loss of vision and hearing. The risk of stroke increases in the first year after the onset of shingles.
Can Shingles be Prevented?
Shingles can be prevented through vaccination. Talk to one of our healthcare professionals about Shingles vaccination.
Shingrix vaccine requires two doses two months apart.
It is only available privately, so you have to pay to get it. You cannot get it through your medical card or drug payment scheme.
For fur. information please speak to any member of staff.
