The shingles presents itself in the form of a painful rash and usually affects older people above the age of 50. The shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox which can lay dormant in the body for many years. Below is some useful information about the shingles.
• Shingles becomes an increasing risk as you age
• Less than 5% of cases exist in children below the age of 14
• It is more likely to occur in people with a weakened immune system
• In the United States along, there are around 250,000 to 650,000 cases every year.
The shingles rash is caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. This is the virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has been infected with the varicella virus, the virus travels back into the body and waits. For various reasons, the virus can reactivate, travel down the nerve to the skin, and cause the rash. The possibilities are as follows:
• An infection of HIV
• Trauma
• Underline health problems or illness
• A compromised immune system
• Cancer
• Organ transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Certain types of drugs and medication
Shingles presents itself to begin with in the form of an itch which goes on to become significantly painful from only a light touch. During the time of the pain people can suffer from headaches, fatigue, and fever, amongst other problems. After a few days later a rash will develop which will progress onto become blisters. If you have never had chickenpox then shingles is really no concern of yours unless you have come into very close contact with a carrier. There are also lots of possible problems with shingles – the most serious being postherpetic neuralgia which will cause significant pain for well over a year once the shingles rash has cleared up.
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