shingles

[anjou]

Americans In The Dark About Shingles
21 Jan 2007
Thought you were done with the chickenpox as a kid? Think again. Shingles, a disease caused by the same virus as chickenpox, affects roughly one million Americans each year. As people age, their risk of getting shingles increases but despite its incidence many people are completely unaware of the disease.
"People don't really know about shingles unless they know someone who has had shingles, or they develop it themselves," said Stephen Tyring M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

The results of a recent national survey by the American Pain Foundation support Trying's position. The survey revealed that many older adults were not aware of their risk for the disease. More than half of the respondents who reported having heard of shingles were not sure of the risk factors. And many respondents were unaware of the relationship between chickenpox and shingles.

After a person gets the chickenpox, most often during childhood, the inactivated virus can live on in certain nerve cells in the body. In healthy people, the body's immune system usually keeps the virus at bay. As people age or their immune system becomes compromised, the virus can reactivate and result in shingles.

The risk of shingles increases with age. "With each decade, a person's immunity weakens, so that by 60 years of age, the likelihood of shingles significantly increases," says Tyring. "In fact, one out of two people who live to the age of 85 will have had shingles." And although seniors are at higher risk, shingles can affect people of all ages.

The first signs of shingles may not be visually noticeable. People often experience tingling, burning, itching or pain. During the first few days of symptoms, fluid-filled blisters will break out in a rash, usually on one side of the body or face. The rash is often painful and will heal in two to four weeks, in most people. However, some people experience post-herpetic neuralgia, or long-term nerve pain which can persist for months or even years after the initial rash. Long-term nerve pain caused by shingles can vary and has been described as burning, throbbing, stabbing or shooting. The older a person gets, the more he or she is at risk for long-term nerve pain.

Men and women are affected equally by shingles. "I have seen, however, in my practice that women come into the doctor's office sooner, while men tend to wait," Tyring said. Shingles patients, both men and women, are often given analgesics along with antiviral medications for treatment. "Antiviral medicines for shingles may help speed up healing and reduce pain in some patients, but if possible, treatment should begin within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms," according to Tyring.

Although the disease affects the sexes equally, its greater impact on older adults should capture the attention of women.

"Women make up more than 60 percent of population 85 years and older, so any condition that is prone to strike older people is of special concern to women," said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, president and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research. "Older Americans should talk to their health care providers about their risk for shingles."

To raise awareness about shingles and complications that can arise from the disease, the American Pain Foundation is sponsoring a national education program called "Spotlight on Shingles" that features a Web site and a toll-free number that people can call to receive a free informational brochure about shingles. For more information, visit http://www.spotlightonshingles.com.

Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)
1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 701
Washington, DC 20036
United States
http://www.womenshealthresearch.org

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=61233

[survivor06]

This is good information. I could have used it at Thanksgiving when I developed shingles, and just lived with it, because I didn't know any better. After about a week, I finally went in to the doctor. I had looked up my symptoms, but didn't think it was shingles, because I didn't develop blisters. I did have everything else, though. It burned like fire, and clothes were not my friend. The doc said my body was partially able to fight it off, which is why I didn't get the blisters. My heart goes out to anyone with shingles. I wish I would have known about it before I got it.

[salli]

People with NHL should all be made more aware of the dangers of shingles. I think it is very worthy to bring up. As if the pain isn't enough during the outbreak--you can be left with PHN (post herpetic neuralgia)for years or ever. The pain can be so bad that the quality of life becomes greatly reduced. See a doctor at the first sign of a little rash, pain or strange feeling in an area just to rule it out! It often hits on the torso and even on the head, face or eyes.



...

[skylin]

yes, shingls SUK.
3x heer. caus i keptt tellng th dr 'thay ar comngg bak!!' an he kpt sayng 'no sweety, thtts th post-hrpathc pane'....an thay cvame bak.

oral valtrex is tth mane antti-virl, i thnk usd. thts wht i ws on. an frrankly, if yuo ar in tx, an hav alrdy had 1 owtbrake...jus stay on th valtrex.
zovirax creem, i cood put on th afectd areas up to 6x a day, ths is acyclovirr.
inssist on neurontin, as THS helps decrees th chanse of post-hrpatthc pane, and lssns the nerv pane while th shngls ar activ.
and ther ar thees watr paches tht tom cleend evry sngl drug stor in ourr arrea an had thm ship mor in ttht i NEEDED.
lidocane pachs too.

and yes, i had it on my lowrr bak, but it DID gett tto my fase, on ttht same side, ovr my eye...and i had tto us speshl eyedrrops to sav my visn. it is a BIG DEEL if thay gget on yuor fase.

hope ths helps somboddy.
thanks anjou!
HEERS TO HOPE
sara

[Magical]

Gee, Sara, I'm sorry you've had such extensive experience with this devil - that is on top of everything else you went through! But thanks for sharing what you know, how you were treated etc. That might be a big help others. XOXOXOXO

[rdemay]

Alright, 3x is completely unfair and you should be entitled to another tax stimulus check, free car, or something

These posts have served to really, really bring home the importance of this issue to me. I will not be playing the hero with any rash-like symptoms going forward. From now on, no rash gets ignored until shingles are ruled out.

Thanks Sara and all y'all,

-Rafael