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Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral infection that causes an itchy, painful rash, typically on one side of the body. The rash can appear as a stripe of blisters, and can provoke chills, fatigue, fever, and pain. But it is not contagious to those who have had chickenpox.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This same virus is what leads to the development of chickenpox. After recovery from chickenpox, varicella-zoster stays dormant in the body. The virus can reactivate later on in life, often during an episode of a weakened immune system. The symptoms of shingles can include pain, itching, tingling, and numbness, as well as fever, headache, and fatigue.
Want to find out more about shingles and how to prevent complications? If so, click through the following gallery.
Shingles often appears as a rash, often with blistering characteristics. But before the rash develops, people can sometimes experience pain, itching, or even numbness in a particular area.
The rash often has several small, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters can break open and start to develop a crust just days after the blisters burst. The rash is typically on one side of the body, appearing as a single stripe.
In addition to the painful, itchy, and just overall uncomfortable rash that appears when you develop shingles, some people can also develop other symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, or fatigue.
Anyone who has had chickenpox, 99% of Americans, can develop shingles. Both are caused by the varicella-zoster virus. When you have chickenpox, often during childhood, the virus remains dormant in your nervous system.
In the nervous system, varicella-zoster remains inactive for years. But later in life, it can reactivate, circulating along the nerve pathways to the skin. This process can lead to the development of shingles.
This is not to say that everyone that has had chickenpox will, later in life, come to develop shingles. In fact, it’s difficult to say exactly why some people develop shingles at all.
One theory is that as people get older their immune system also becomes more vulnerable. In periods of lowered immunity to infections, the virus can reactivate and develop into shingles.
Most people who develop shingles are typically older (50 years old or more) and/or have weakened immune systems, such as those with chronic autoimmune issues or disease.
In fact, age is one of the primary factors that increase your risk of developing shingles. In addition to being more likely to activate the virus once over the age of 50, those over the age of 60 can experience more severe complications.
Those undergoing cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, may also see shingles being triggered. Diseases like HIV/AIDS can also increase your risk of developing shingles due to a weakened immune system.
Conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, and lung disease, among others, may also increase your risk of contracting the virus. If you experience periods of high stress, your immune system may also weaken and, therefore, you may be more at risk. Pregnant women and newborns are also at high risk.
People who have undergone organ transplants and are on medications to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs also have an increased risk of developing the virus. Studies show that, in terms of regular medication consumption, those using steroids for an extended period of time also carry this risk.
Varicella-zoster is actually a part of the herpes virus group. This same group of viruses can provoke the development of cold sores and other herpes symptoms. That’s why shingles is also referred to as herpes zoster.
Despite the name, shingles and chickenpox don’t emerge from the same virus that provokes cold sores and genital herpes. The latter is an infection that is sexually transmitted.
So, is shingles contagious? Yes and no. Those with shingles can only pass on varicella-zoster to people who aren’t immune to chickenpox, typically via contact with open rashes and sores.
Though, curiously, when this does happen, the infected person comes to develop chickenpox, rather than developing shingles. This transmission can become very dangerous for some.
Chickenpox can actually be quite dangerous for people that have never had it. Most people develop chickenpox in their childhood, but for those who managed not to contract it then, severe complications can arise.
What do these complications look like? For some, the pain and discomfort that shingles causes can actually go on after the rash that develops with the virus finally clears.
This condition, referred to as postherpetic neuralgia, happens when nerve fibers become damaged. These damaged nerve fibers essentially create a constant flare of pain receptors, sending messages of pain from the skin to the brain.
The nervous system can become permanently altered when shingles develops. Inflammation of the brain and issues related to hearing loss or even balance can occur. Additionally, some people can experience facial paralysis.
Another unfortunate complication includes vision loss. The rash that emerges can develop anywhere on the body, including around the eye area. This is called ophthalmic shingles.
The development of shingles around the eye area can be particularly painful. It's actually considered a medical emergency. It can lead to the development of secondary infections that can actually result in vision loss.
Secondary infections are a big issue when it comes to shingles. If the rash isn’t properly cared for and adequately treated, other infections, such as bacterial skin infections, can also develop.
There are also studies that show that the development of shingles can increase the probability of developing more severe neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
So, what can you do to prevent the development of shingles? There are safe and effective vaccines available for those who are eligible. In the United States, Shingrix is a popular vaccine option for those aged 50 or older.
This vaccine is not just limited to those who are older. The vaccine can also be administered to those with chronic health conditions who have weakened immune systems and are, therefore, more likely to contract the vaccine.
The vaccine isn’t a 100% guarantee that you will not develop the disease. But, even if you do contract the virus, the length of time that the virus takes to run its course is often reduced (and the severity as well).
Unfortunately, the vaccine really only works as a prevention method. This means that if you already have shingles, the vaccine can’t be used as a treatment method. Therefore, it’s best to consider receiving the vaccine to lower your risk.
If you do have shingles, keep your rash covered to prevent the spread of the virus. Beyond cleaning the rash area, avoid touching it at all. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, too.
Sources: (Mayo Clinic) (World Health Organization)
See also: Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent dementia
99% of Americans have the shingles virus right now
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Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral infection that causes an itchy, painful rash, typically on one side of the body. The rash can appear as a stripe of blisters, and can provoke chills, fatigue, fever, and pain. But it is not contagious to those who have had chickenpox.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This same virus is what leads to the development of chickenpox. After recovery from chickenpox, varicella-zoster stays dormant in the body. The virus can reactivate later on in life, often during an episode of a weakened immune system. The symptoms of shingles can include pain, itching, tingling, and numbness, as well as fever, headache, and fatigue.
Want to find out more about shingles and how to prevent complications? If so, click through the following gallery.