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Friday, March 29, 2024

The truth about shingles

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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three people are likely to get infected by shingles in their lifetime—yet most Filipinos are not even aware of this debilitating disease.

“Shingles (or herpes zoster) is a viral infection that can cause a severely painful rash,” said Dr. Edsel Salvana, an infectious disease specialist.

Shingles causes skin to itch, tingle, burn and become
very sensitive. (Image from WebMD.com)

Shingles appear as stripes of blisters that wrap around the area of infection (commonly on the sides of the torso). Dr. Salvana added, “For older Filipinos, the risks are significantly higher.”

The varicella virus is the root cause of the disease. It is also the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Dr. Salvana said, “Once you’ve had chickenpox (even as a child), the varicella virus can lay dormant in your system for years and years, and reactivate as shingles when you are older.”

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Shingles cannot spread from one person to another, but the varicella virus can be passed on from an individual with shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox.

Symptoms and complications

Postherpetic neuralgia or chronic pain is the most common complication of shingles which can last for months, even years. This can lead to chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, depression, anorexia, weight loss, and social isolation.

According to a UK study, 10 to 25 percent of shingles sufferers will develop zoster opthalmicus. Dr. Salvana explained, “This happens when the blisters develop in the eye area, which can lead to serious complications.”

In these cases, patients are at risk of developing recurring eye disease and blindness.

The greatest risk factor

Age has been identified as the most important risk factor of shingles. “Filipinos 60 and above face higher risks due to natural decline in immunity, and because they have been likely to have had chickenpox.” said Dr. Salvana.

Furthermore, research confirms the onset of the disease is more severe for older patients. Incidences of severe pain were more common for those aged 60 and above.

According to Dr. Salvana, “There’s no way to predict when the virus will reactivate, who will have it, how severe the case may be, and how long the pain may last.

He added: “95 percent of adults over the age of 50 are at risk for shingles. This is a very alarming number given the fact that you never know when it will strike."

Recommended treatment

Treating the signs and symptoms of shingles can be a challenge. There is a multi-faceted approach including antivirals, analgesics, corticosteroids, and/or anticonvulsants.

“Managing shingles on a daily basis can be quite expensive, even treatment satisfaction can be quite poor, so vaccination is a very practical solution,” said Dr. Salvana.

According to the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Filipinos aged 60 and above are recommended for shingles vaccination.

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