Shingles – Seven Facts Seniors Should Know

Do You Know the Truth About Herpes Zoster?

Jul 14, 2009 Katrena Wells

Learn seven facts about herpes zoster or shingles infections. Check to see if what you know about shingles is fact or fiction.

Shingles. The word may cause seniors to shudder at the thought, but many people are unsure if information is true or false regarding this common viral illness, also known as herpes zoster or zoster. Do you know the truth about shingles?

Do Only Elderly People Get Shingles?

People of any age can get a shingles infection once they have had a chicken pox infection. People most at risk for getting a shingles infection are those who:

are older (more than half of shingles cases occur in those over the age of 60)
have altered immunity due to certain medications or treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or steroid treatments
have altered immunity due to certain chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS, bone cancers or lymphatic cancers

Is Shingles Contagious?

Shingles is not typically contagious but close or direct contact with the rash may produce result in the shingles in:

People who have never had a chicken pox infection
Those who do not have adequate immunity to the varicella zoster virus
The unborn baby of a pregnant woman exposed to a shingles rash

Shingles is not contagious before the rash appears or after the blisters become crusty.

Post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN, is not contagious.

Is Treatment Available for Shingles?

If you have altered immunity or are advanced in age and know that you have been exposed to the chicken pox virus, notify your healthcare provider immediately. Treatment tends to be more effective when started earlier in the course of the infection. Medications that might be prescribed to treat or prevent shingles or PHN include:

Shingles vaccine (You may wish to read about the pros and cons of the shingles vaccine.)
Antiviral medications
Oral pain medications
Hygeinic measures, such as washing the rash twice a day without applying a bandage
Cool compresses to the rash
Anti-itch creams
Oral anti-histamines
Pain medication administered through a gel or patch after the rash heals
Antidepressants and medications such as Neurontin or Lyrica (for PHN)

What if Pain Continues After a Shingles Rash?

Although shingles is caused by the chicken pox virus, more pain and less itching is associated with shingles than with the chicken pox. Nerve pain can be severe and may continue. Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) is a painful condition affecting about one in five people who have the shingles and can last weeks, months, and even years after the shingles rash disappears. Pain may be increased at night or by heat or cold. The shingles vaccine and/or early treatment have been shown to be helpful in lessening the severity of PHN.

What Happens if Shingles Crosses the Middle of the Body?

A shingles rash usually appears only on one side of the body but can appear anywhere from head to foot. The infection can spread, or disseminate, to other areas and organs throughout the body. People who have more severe forms of the shingles may need more aggressive treatment, but many survive this infection. Those with altered immunity are most at risk for disseminated shingles and complications. Early treatment is associated with better outcomes. You should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have a widespread shingles rash. Organized Wisdom's Mediscan web page provides numerous pictures of various types of shingles rashes. (Some of the shingles photos are graphic.)

Can You Get Shingles More Than Once?

Depending on risk factors and immune function, some people may get a shingles infection more than once or even multiple times. Less than 4% of people get shingles more than one time.

Can a Doctor Help if You Have the Shingles?

Prompt treatment may result in better and quicker recovery from a shingles infection with less complications. Several complications may result from shingles, including:

encephalitis
vision problems
hearing problems
facial paralysis (Ramsay hunt syndrome)
bacterial infections on the skin

Learning the Truth about Shingles:

Shingles, an infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, can cause pain and a rash that is typically on one side of the body and can recur under certain circumstances. Nerve pain may last long after the rash disappears. If people who are susceptible to the virus come into contact with a zoster rash, they can develop an infection. Early treatment may help lessen the symptoms of shingles and may prevent certain complications.

Sources:

“Disseminated Zoster” by Carolynne Corigliano and Steven Q. Wang (2005-09, Dermatology Nursing)

“Herpes Zoster (Shingles) and Postherpetic Neuralgia” by Priya Sampathkumar et al. (2009-03, Mayo Clinic Proceedings)

“Shingles” (MayoClinic.com)

The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. Always contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about your health or if you suspect that you may have a shingles infection.

The copyright of the article Shingles – Seven Facts Seniors Should Know in Seniors' Health/Medicare is owned by Katrena Wells. Permission to republish Shingles – Seven Facts Seniors Should Know in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.