Parkland providers treat hundreds with shingles each year
Nearly 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime
Take a look at the people around you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly one in every three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime and an estimated 1 million cases are diagnosed in this country every year. That means you, or someone next to you, could be at risk.
In fiscal year 2013 providers at Parkland Health & Hospital System treated 573 patients suffering from shingles which is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body and for reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate later, causing shingles.
Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two to four weeks. Before the rash develops, people often have pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. This may happen anywhere from one to five days before the rash appears.
“I’ve seen the commercials describing the pain associated with shingles, but didn’t give it a second thought until I was diagnosed with shingles,” said Cassandra Christopher, an HR Business Partner in Parkland’s Office of Talent Management. “The pain was excruciating. It’s not something I’d wish on anyone.”
Most commonly, the rash occurs in a shingle stripe around either the left or the right side of the body. In other cases, the rash occurs on one side of the face. In rare cases (usually among people with weakened immune systems), the rash may be more widespread and look similar to a chickenpox rash, according to the CDC.
“Shingles have been around for a number of years but with the increased publicity, people are becoming more aware of the virus,” said Noel Santini, MD, Medical Director for Parkland’s network of Community Oriented Primary Care health centers. “There are several antiviral medicines to treat shingles that will help shorten the length and severity of the illness. But to be effective, they must be started as soon as the rash appears.
“People who have or think they might have shingles should call their healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss treatment options,” Dr. Santini added.
The only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and the long-term pain is to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that people aged 60 years and older get one dose of the shingles vaccine. People seeking the shingles vaccine are advised to call their neighborhood pharmacy or physician office and ask about its availability.
Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another; however, the virus that causes shingles can be spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles.
A person with active shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before the blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious, Dr. Santini said.
If you have shingles, Dr. Santini advises to keep the rash covered, avoid touching or scratching the rash and wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the virus. Until the rash has developed crusts, avoid contact with pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine; premature or low birth weight infants; and people with weakened immune systems such as people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, and people with HIV.
“I never realized how many people I know were diagnosed with shingles until I was,” Christopher said. “I know my chances of contracting them again are low, but after suffering through a first round I hope there’s never a second.”
For more information about shingles, visit www.cdc.gov/shingles.
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