For most of that time, the virus stays in an inactive state. But it can reactivate again years later. This could cause the person to develop shingles. Read on to learn more about shingles and how to prevent the spread of the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus can typically spread from a person with shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox.
If a person has had chickenpox , they usually have antibodies against the virus in their body. Shingles causes open, oozing blisters. This could lead to chickenpox. Once the blisters scab, they can no longer pass on the virus. Most people have the varicella-zoster virus in their bodies.
But the National Institute on Aging says that it only reactivates in around one-third of them, so only one in three people with the virus will have shingles. However, the chance of this happening increases as a person gets older. Around half of all cases occur after the age of 60 years, and the risk increases significantly from 70 onward.
Early shingles symptoms can include:. The most noticeable symptoms are blisters and pain. The outward symptoms of shingles look a lot like a case of chickenpox. Both diseases cause raised blisters that open, ooze fluid, and crust over. But unlike the chickenpox rash, which can occur on different parts of your body, shingles usually affects one area of your body. Shingles blisters are most prevalent on your torso, where they wrap around your waist on one side of your body. The shingles rash may also appear on one side of your face.
If this happens, contact a doctor immediately. Shingles travels along a nerve path, causing pain and strange sensations. Itching and sensitivity to touch are also symptoms of shingles. Shingles pain varies in severity. It can be difficult to treat with over-the-counter pain medications. Your doctor might prescribe antidepressants or steroids. These two types of drugs can successfully relieve nerve pain in some people.
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Recent Blog Articles. Caregivers providing support to someone with shingles can take the following actions to protect themselves from the virus:. The most effective way for people with shingles to prevent the spread of VZV is to:. Additionally, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people if you develop shingles.
Until the rash begins to heal and crust over, you should avoid people at higher risk for VZV complications, including people with compromised immune systems and pregnant people. A person with shingles is contagious until their rash crusts over.
You can go to work if you have shingles and are no longer contagious. Shingles can be excruciating and debilitating. This is typically 10 days after the rash first crops up. Two vaccines may help prevent shingles. But you can still get chickenpox despite being vaccinated, which means you can also potentially get shingles later in life.
The current shingles vaccine , Shingrix, is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine. For maximum effect, a person needs to get the second dose within at least six months of the first.
Also, avoid the vaccine if you have a weakened immune system. If in doubt, talk to your healthcare professional to determine whether it makes sense for you to get the shingles vaccine.
Shingles is a painful condition that can be prevented. Getting vaccinated for chickenpox or shingles can help you avoid infection and potential complications. Why bother protecting yourself? Shingles often crops up later in life. While you might feel in tip-top shape now, years down the road, you might have to deal with a health condition that increases your risk of complications with shingles.
In some people, shingles can cause lasting effects such as nerve damage. Thankfully, there are effective vaccines that can help prevent instances of both chickenpox and shingles. Want to know more about getting the vaccine? Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
However, you can have shingles more than once. If you have shingles, direct contact with the fluid from your rash blisters can spread VZV to people who have never had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine. If they get infected, they will develop chickenpox, not shingles.
They could then develop shingles later in life. The risk of spreading VZV to others is low if you cover the shingles rash. People with shingles cannot spread the virus before their rash blisters appear or after the rash crusts. Also see Treating Shingles.
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