Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus behind chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox before, this virus stays inactive in your body and could reactivate later in life, causing shingles. The rash usually appears as a strip of red blisters on one side of your body.

Unlike chickenpox, it’s possible to experience shingles multiple times. With each recurrence, the rash typically appears in a different location.

The most significant symptom of shingles is severe pain that can feel like a burning or sensation of electric shock. This pain can be relentless and may affect your daily activities, making even simple tasks feel unbearable.

Soon after the pain begins, a rash typically appears, transforming into itchy blisters that resemble chickenpox.

Days before the rash shows up, you might experience worrisome symptoms, including intense headaches and a burning or tingling sensation in the area where the rash will develop. You may also feel generally unwell, with fatigue and a high fever that leaves you drained.

Risk factors

Shingles can develop at any age, though the risk is higher if you’re:

• are aged 50 and above;
• have a weakened immune system;
• have had chickenpox.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control, approximately one in three people will experience shingles at some point in their lives. Risk factors include:

• Cancer: Individuals who have cancer or have recently had it are at greater risk for shingles. They may need to be hospitalised for severe complications. The risk is highest in the year after a cancer diagnosis, especially for those with blood cancers like leukaemia or lymphoma.
• HIV: People living with HIV are much more likely to develop shingles. This virus weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight off infections.

• Diabetes: Both type-1 and type-2 diabetes can increase the chances of getting shingles. This is because diabetes affects how the body produces insulin, which is important for managing blood sugar levels.
• Immunosuppressive treatments: Treatments that weaken the immune system, such as steroids for autoimmune diseases, can raise the risk of shingles. This includes people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and those who have recently had an organ or bone marrow transplant.

Prevention

Getting vaccinated can help keep you from developing severe shingles. The recombinant shingles vaccine helps prevent the disease and also protects against postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles.

PHN causes long-lasting nerve pain in the areas where the shingles rash occurred. This pain can continue for months or even years after the rash has healed and can be very severe.

As such, it is recommended that adults aged 50 and older receive the shingles vaccine. Notably, you should get vaccinated even if you have previously had shingles to prevent recurrence.

This article was written for Alpro Pharmacy, a dedicated community pharmacy committed to providing opportunities, health, and guidance to anyone striving for a better life. Speak to their professional healthcare providers at 019-702 1923.

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