Shingles

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the herpes-zoster virus that is also responsible for chickenpox. Once you have had chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your body for the rest of your life and may reactivate as shingles later on in life.

While not life-threatening, shingles can be very painful. Your chances of developing shingles can be lowered with vaccination and early intervention may help lessen the chances of developing shingles complications such as postherpetic neuralgia. This condition causes shingles pain long after the blisters are gone.

Shingles is more common in older adults and those with a weakened immune system. Shingles is contagious and can be passed from a person suffering from Shingles to anyone who isn't immune to chickenpox. Avoid physical contact with anyone who hasn't yet had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.

What are the symptoms of Shingles?

Shingles typically affect a small section of your body. Signs and symptoms of Shingles include:

• Burning or tingling sensation
• Your skin being sensitive to the touch
• A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
• Fluid-filled blisters
• Itching
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache

Shingles rash most commonly develops as a stripe of blisters that wrap around either the left or right side of the torso. However, some people may experience shingles pain without developing rashes.

What causes Shingles?

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After recovering from shingles, the virus enters the nervous system and remains dormant till it reactivates and travels along the nerve pathway to your skin, producing shingles.

The reason it reactivates is unclear, it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as people get older. Shingles is more common in older adults and those with a weakened immune system.

What are the risk factor of Shingles?

You are at risk of developing Shingles if you have had chickenpox. Other factors that may increase your chances of developing Shingles include:

• Age: Your risk of Shingles increase with age, and Shingles is more common in older adults above the age of 50.
• Being immunocompromised: Diseases that weaken your immune system such as HIV/AIDS or cancer may increase your risk of cancer.
• Cancer treatments: Your resistance to diseases may be lowered due to cancer treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
• Certain medications: Drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs or long term use of steroids may increase your risk of shingles.

What are the complications of Shingles?

Complications you may experience from Shingles include:

• Postherpetic Neuralgia: Some people may experience Shingles pain long after their blisters have cleared. This happens due to damaged nerve fibres that send the wrong signals from your skin to your brain.
• Vision loss: Shingles in or around the eyes may result in painful eye infections and vision loss.
• Neurological problems: Shingles may cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), facial paralysis, or problems with hearing or balance.
• Skin problems: Skin infections may develop if the Shingles aren't properly treated.

How do you prevent Shingles?

The best way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated. If you have never had chickenpox, you may consider the varicella vaccine which protects against chickenpox, and subsequently shingles. Otherwise, if you have suffered from chickenpox before, there are shingles vaccines available, such as Zostavax and Shingrix. 

Shingrix has an effectiveness of 97% and is the recommended vaccine in clinics around Singapore. It is recommended for adults above the age of 50, and those 18 years and older with weakened immune systems.

How is Shingles treated?

There is no cure for Shingles however medication can be taken to aid in healing or lower your risks of developing complications. Consult with your healthcare provider for the best course of action regarding your medication.