If you were born before 1980 or if you have ever had chickenpox, you are at risk of getting a condition called herpes zoster, which is more commonly known as shingles.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles in their lifetime, and about 1 million people in the U.S. get shingles each year. It is possible to have shingles more than once in your life.
If you have had chickenpox in your lifetime, the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus that causes chickenpox, remains dormant in your body and can reactivate, causing shingles.
Symptoms
Shingles causes a blistering rash that usually appears on the left or right side of the body, but other areas, such as the eyes, can also be affected. The rash can be tingly, itchy and/or painful.
Before a rash develops, you may experience tingling, itching or pain in the area of your body where the rash will occur. This can happen several days before you see a rash. You may also have a fever.
While you have the shingles rash, you may experience other symptoms, such as:
- Nausea
- Chills
- Fever
- Headaches
The rash will normally scab over in seven to 10 days.
Shingles can result in complications, such as vision loss or long-term nerve pain in the area where you had the rash. These complications can impact daily life. Around 10-18% of people who have had shingles end up getting long-term nerve pain, and the risk increases with age.
Risk
In addition to previously having chickenpox or being born before 1980, you are at a higher risk of developing shingles if you:
- Take medications that compromise your immune system, such as steroids or medications you take after an organ transplant
- Have HIV, leukemia or lymphoma
Your risk of shingles will also increase as you age.
Can I Get Shingles From Someone Else?
Fortunately, you cannot get shingles if you are around someone else who has shingles. However, if you have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine and you are around someone with shingles, you can get chickenpox because the person with shingles has the varicella-zoster virus inside them. Then you can develop shingles later in life.
If you have never had chickenpox, your risk of getting chickenpox from someone with shingles increases if you:
- Breathe virus particles that come from shingles rash blisters
- Touch fluid from shingles rash blisters
Can I Prevent Shingles?
The best way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that adults who are 50 or older receive two doses of a recombinant zoster vaccine (such as SHINGRIX®) to prevent shingles. If you are 19 or older and have a compromised immune system, you can also get vaccinated against shingles.
What Do I Do if I Have Shingles?
If you have shingles, you can take steps to avoid spreading the varicella-zoster virus to other people. You can:
- Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds or longer each time
- Avoid scratching or touching your rash or blisters
- Cover your rash
It is important to avoid being around people with compromised immune systems, infants and pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine until your rash scabs over.
You cannot spread the varicella-zoster virus before your blisters appear or after your rash scabs over.
You can take an antiviral medication, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir, to reduce the length and severity of your shingles illness. Antiviral medications work best if you start taking them within 72 hours from the onset of the rash. As a result, you should see your primary care provider or an urgent care provider if you think you may have shingles.
If you are experiencing pain, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your rash is itchy, you can try taking a warm oatmeal bath or applying calamine lotion or wet compresses.
If you think you may have shingles, call UofL Physicians – Primary Care at 502-588-4343 to make an appointment with a primary care provider, or you can visit your nearest UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus location. You can also visit one of our primary care offices if you need the shingles vaccine.
