What Causes Shingles?

“What’s your opinion on getting the shingles vaccination? It’s expensive and my insurance doesn’t cover it. Is it worth it?”

A little background first. Shingles is a viral infection. One million people will get shingles this year, and one out of three people 60 and older will get shingles in their lifetime. It’s caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox; if you’ve had chicken pox, you’ve still got the virus lying dormant in your body. It hides in your nerve cells until for some unknown reason, it begins to multiply and cause the pain and blisters of shingles.

The virus manifests itself with burning and pain, even before a rash breaks out. Generally speaking, it lasts two to three weeks and goes away by itself. While it’s inconvenient, it’s not life threatening; itching and burning can be treated. However, what is much more serious is when shingles turns into postherpetic neuralgia. The pain and inflammation can last for weeks, even months, and sometimes years. It can be debilitating. We don’t know what makes some cases serious while others clear up on their own.

That brings us back to the vaccination—and I’ll cover that on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html