Shingles: A Viral Time Bomb

Ninety-five percent of American adults are living with a time bomb and they don’t know it. Most everyone has heard of chickenpox; typically it’s considered a childhood disease. However, not everyone knows that the virus that causes chickenpox — varicella zoster — stays in the body for life. Years after a person has recovered from chickenpox the virus can reactivate and become shingles or herpes zoster.

Even those who were vaccinated for chickenpox may get shingles. Shingles strike at least 1 million

people a year in the United States most of those are age 50 or older.

While shingles appears in all racial groups, it seems to affect African Americans more, according to Dr. Jasper Fullard, Internal Medicine and Chairman of the Board for the Black Health Care Coalition in Kansas City, Missouri. “We’re not exactly sure why it does; it may have to do with the resistance problem.”

The resistance problem Dr. Fullard mentions refers to a body's reduced resistance to the varicella zoster virus. This reduced resistance can be caused by age or by a compromised immune system (from HIV, lymphoma or leukemia, for example) or by excessive fatigue, physical or psychological stress. Dr. Fullard goes on to say "Not any one thing can trigger the reactivation of the virus."

What are the symptoms?

Most people with shingles develop a painful rash that appears on one side of the face or body. The rash, clusters of small bumps that become fluid-filled blisters, which later drain and form crusted scabs, usually lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.

However between one-third and one-half of older adults with shingles, develop chronic pain and serious complications that change their lives.

Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. Very rarely, a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. Shingles cannot cause other cases of shingles. However, the shingles rash can cause chickenpox in those who have never had chickenpox or never been vaccinated.

Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox, and it is generally not necessary to isolate the affected person while the rash is present. Covering the rash can reduce
the risk.

How is shingles treated?

Once a person sees the rash, they should go to their doctor or clinic.

“It is very important to get them on the antiviral medication to kill the virus,” says
Dr. Fullard.

Starting anti-viral medication within 72 hours of the onset of shingles can reduce the pain and the length of time the outbreak lasts.

In 2006, a vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help prevent shingles. Zostavax is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for most adults age 60 and older.

“The vaccine is more effective in people ages 60-69, so it is probably better that they get vaccinated at that age,” said Megan Lindley, MPH, coordinator of the Shingles VaccineImplementation Group in CDC’s Immunization Services Division.

The shingles vaccination is available through the Kansas City Health Department Adult Immunization Clinic. There is a fee of $180 for the vaccine. For more information about the vaccine, you may contact the Immunization Clinic at 816-513-6128 or contact the CDC at 1-800-232-4636.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has shingles, contact your healthcare provider, or clinic.

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