| Have you ever had chickenpox? After exposure | | | | - Skin that is sensitive to the touch |
| to chickenpox, the virus that caused it | | | | - Mild itching to strong pain |
| (varicella-zoster virus) remains in the body, | | | | There is a natural progression of the disease that |
| residing in some nerve cells. This virus can | | | | proceeds in the following manner: |
| become active again in the form of a disease | | | | 1. Tingling or burning of the skin occurs. |
| called shingles which results in pain and blisters. | | | | 2. A few days later, a red rash is visible. |
| Senior citizens are at especially high risk for | | | | 3. The rash develops into blisters that dry up and |
| developing shingles. It is important that seniors and | | | | crust over within a few days. |
| those involved in caring for senior citizens know | | | | 4. The overall duration of the illness can last from |
| about shingles. | | | | 3-5 weeks. |
| The onset of shingles is similar to chickenpox in | | | | Other complications that can result from shingles |
| that it produces feelings of being sick and rashes | | | | are due to blisters becoming infected and causing |
| on the body or face. The main difference is when | | | | scarring or blindness if they develop close to the |
| these diseases develop - that is, chickenpox | | | | eyes. Other people experience hearing loss, brief |
| mostly affects children while shingles will always | | | | paralysis of the face, or swelling of the brain |
| occur in adults, usually after the age of 50. | | | | (encephalitis). |
| Shingles is somewhat rare (only occurring in 1 in 5 | | | | Treatment |
| people). Once activated, the virus travels along | | | | If you think that you might have shingles, it is |
| the paths of the nerves to the surface of the | | | | important to see a doctor as soon as possible in |
| skin producing rashes and pain. | | | | order to treat the virus. Shingles is often treated |
| Because shingles is caused by a virus present in | | | | at home with medications prescribed by your |
| the body from a previous infection of chickenpox, | | | | doctor. These medications can be antiviral drugs, |
| it is not contagious. However, you can catch the | | | | pain relievers, or anti-depressants. If these |
| virus which will cause chickenpox in the recently | | | | medications are used within 72 hours of a rash |
| infected individual. If you have never had | | | | developing, they can effectively shorten the |
| chickenpox before, it may be best to stay away | | | | duration of the illness and risk for other |
| from people who develop shingles. Recently, a | | | | complications that can occur. Although most |
| vaccine has been developed that can keep you | | | | people only get shingles once, it is possible for it |
| from getting shingles. It is only available for senior | | | | to recur again. |
| citizens. | | | | There are things that you can do to relieve the |
| Risk Factors | | | | symptoms of shingles if it develops. These include: |
| Although there is no way to detect whether the | | | | - Getting enough rest, avoiding stress, and eating |
| dormant virus will become active in someone who | | | | right |
| has already recovered from chickenpox, there | | | | - Simple exercises like stretching or walking if it is |
| are certain risk factors than make activation of | | | | safe and not too painful |
| the virus more likely. These include: | | | | - Applying a cool damp washcloth to blisters |
| - Advanced age. This may be due to the fact | | | | - Doing activities that take the mind off the pain |
| that older people have a harder time of fighting | | | | like watching TV, reading, or Spending time with |
| off infection. The risk of shingles dramatically | | | | loved ones and friends |
| increases after the age of 70. | | | | - Relaxation or listening to music that you enjoy |
| - Immunodifficiency - difficulty fighting off | | | | - Talking about your pain and emotions with |
| infections. If the immune system is compromised | | | | others that you trust |
| for other reasons than those due to aging, you | | | | - Asking for help when you need it |
| are more likely to develop shingles. Some factors | | | | Some people experience ongoing pain after |
| that may weaken the immune system include | | | | recovering from the virus. This pain is called |
| HIV infection, cancer, cancer treatment, organ | | | | post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and usually affects |
| transplants, and physical or mental stress. | | | | the areas of the body that had rashes before. |
| Symptoms | | | | This pain has been described as sharp, throbbing, |
| People who develop shingles often complain of: | | | | and stabbing and can interfere with daily activated |
| - Burning, tingling, or numbing of the skin | | | | for older adults who have developed shingles. |
| - Feeling flu-like sickness - chills, fever, upset | | | | Doctors can prescribe medications for the long |
| stomach, or headache | | | | lasting effects of PHN which older people are |
| - Fluid-filled blisters | | | | more at risk for. |