Shingles

Just when you think you're done with chickenpox, the same virus that causes the condition can lie dormant in the nerves, where it may emerge many years later as shingles (also known as herpes zoster). Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (a member of the Herpesviridae family), which is responsible for a painful rash upon infection. Under normal circumstances, shingles is not a life-threatening condition, but there are some factors that place individuals at a higher risk of suffering from debilitating complications.

The medical reference of "shingles" is derived from the word "cingulum," which means, "girdle" in Latin. The painful rash was likened to a girdle because of the way it can enclose the torso in the same manner as the popular tight-fitting garment. Around the world, the condition is common because of the high incidence of chickenpox. While the disease primarily strikes the elderly, younger individuals are also prone to shingles. Both sexes and all races encounter herpes zoster, which is unaffected by the time of year.

While about 500,000 annual cases of shingles are reported in the United States, it is believed that 1 in every 544 will suffer from herpes zoster on a yearly basis. In other countries across the globe, extrapolated data based upon incidence and prevalence fails to show any other country besides China (2,387,587) exceeding the United States in the number of shingles cases.

Additional country statistics include: Canada (59,757), Mexico (192,940), Brazil (338,421), United Kingdom (110,791), Belgium (19,022), France (111,073), Germany (151,515), Russia (264,658), Pakistan (292, 640), Ethiopia (131, 133), and South Africa (81,706).

In the United States, shingles contributes to as many as 10,000 hospitalizations and approximately 100 deaths per year when complications of the VZV infections arise. Morbidity and mortality statistics often highlight the occurrence amongst individuals with suppressed immune systems, such as the elderly, infants, and those with the HIV infection or AIDS.

Symptoms and Warning Signs

The first sign of shingles is typically a tingling sensation that affects the skin, followed by itchiness, and sometimes a pain that some describe as "stabbing." After several days have passed, a rash will appear that begins as a band or patch of raised dots (usually on the side of the trunk or face). Soon, an individual will experience the development of small blisters filled with fluid that start to dry out and form a crusty exterior within a couple of days. When the rash has reached its peak, one may feel extreme pain or suffer from mild itching. Fortunately, the rash and the pain often completely vanish within three to five weeks.

Additional signs and symptoms of shingles include a fever, headache, chills, as well as an upset stomach. Sometimes, an individual may experience burning, numbness, or heightened sensitivity in a certain part of their body. Often times, the shingles rash will develop on only one side of the body, and follow the path of the nerve where the virus had settled after your bout with chickenpox. Some people also deal with a shingles rash that surfaces close to one eye or on one side of the neck.

Generally, most people who undergo shingles will only encounter one episode, although individuals with an impaired immune system (such as AIDS, cancer, and leukemia patients) unfortunately carry the risk of suffering from future attacks.

Complications

Shingles may cause complications during its presence in the body, such as the lingering effect of pain on the skin (also known as postherpetic neuralgia). Enhanced sensitivity to touch may continue for months and sometimes years after a rash has disappeared. About one in five people who have battled shingles will face this complication. For some, the pain can be triggered by the simple breeze or minimal contact with clothing. It is the damaged nerves caused by shingles complications that further painful symptoms left behind by the disease.

Risk Factors

Around 1 in 10 healthy adults who have experienced chickenpox will eventually face shingles, which often occurs after the age of 50. A person with shingles is also a threat to anyone who hasn't had chickenpox. Direct contact with an open sore in a shingles rash is how the varicella-zoster virus can pass on to unaffected individuals. Additional risk factors for shingles include people with a weakened immune system, newborn babies, and pregnant women.

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