How Chicken Pox Transfers To Shingles - A Particularly Painful Form Of Neuropathy

Today's post from health.clevelandclinic.org (see link below) explains the link between Chicken Pox and Shingles in later life. If you've ever had shingles, you'll know that it's one of the most irritating and painful forms of neuropathy but there is hope for many people, in the form of a vaccine (Shingrix@). The biggest plus for this vaccine is that it works best for people over the age of 50 (how often do you hear that!) but it's taken decades for the vaccine to come into common use. If you feel that you're susceptible to shingles, or post-herpetic neuralgia, talk to your doctor about the vaccine - it may save you years of chronic pain attacks. Further than that, this article contains lots of useful information about the varicella-zoster virus that causes shingles.

 

Ever Have Chickenpox? Then You’re at Risk for Shingles 
December 14, 2016 / Infectious Disease

How to minimize your chances of getting this painful rash 


When you were a kid, did you scratch your way through a case of chickenpox? If so, you met the virus that causes shingles.

Called varicella-zoster, it didn’t leave after your chickenpox faded. Instead, the virus laid low in your nervous system.

For one in three adults, the zoster virus re-emerges decades later as shingles. Each year, about 1 million Americans develop the painful rash. Those over 60 are especially at risk.

“Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles at some time in their life,” says Daniel Allan, MD. 

How shingles develops

Sometimes a headache, nausea, fever or chills will herald shingles’ arrival. And the area the rash will be targeting can become painful, numb or tingly a few days in advance. Once the rash hits, blisters form, along with pain described as stabbing, shooting or burning.

“The initial rash is often confused with insect bites,” says Dr. Allan. ““The pain can show up before the rash, continue through the rash and most importantly, it can continue after the rash has healed up.”

The shingles rash typically appears as a band stretching across one side of the trunk. It can develop elsewhere, however. If the rash goes near the eye, immediate care is needed to avoid eye damage.

The shingles rash often lasts for a couple of weeks

Antiviral medication will shorten the duration and pain of shingles if given right away. “Generally, we recommend that patients see their doctor within two to three days of onset. That’s when the prescribed medications are more effective,” says Dr. Allan.

It’s important to keep an oozing rash covered. You can’t spread shingles itself. But you can spread the virus, which can cause chickenpox in those who haven’t had chickenpox or haven’t been vaccinated against it.

“Anyone with active shingles should also avoid pregnant women because of risk to the fetus,” he adds. “Once all the lesions have scabbed or crusted over, you’re no longer contagious.” 

Shingles can strike at any time

Unlike chickenpox, shingles can recur — though not always in the same spot.

Shingles can and does develop in younger people. But it is riskier for older people, who are more likely to develop chronic pain from nerve damage (post-herpetic neuralgia), and for those with autoimmune diseases, because getting shingles increases their risk of stroke.

“The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 and older. It’s extremely useful,” says Dr. Allan.

The Shingrix® vaccine, approved in 2017, reduces your risk of getting shingles by more than 90 percent and offers the best protection against post-herpetic neuralgia.

Many patients with post-herpetic neuralgia require treatment with pain relievers, nerve blocks or implanted nerve stimulators to relieve pain.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ever-have-chickenpox-then-youre-at-risk-for-shingles/