Shingles comes from the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. Although chickenpox is typically not considered severe, it can be quite uncomfortable for some. Vaccines have come quite a long way over the last couple decades. Today, there’s a good chance that kids will never get chickenpox. Forty years ago, it was a foregone conclusion that every child would get this.
Chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Children are vaccinated against this and it has stopped the spread of the virus from spreading through school aged children quite effectively. However, this vaccine isn’t as effective against shingles in older adults. And the consequences of shingles can be much more severe in an elderly individual than chickenpox can be in a child. And if someone has been infected with chickenpox earlier in their lives, they are at a heightened risk of developing shingles as they age.
Statistics say that about one in three people will develop shingles at some point during their lifetime. Some people have developed it more than once. Shingles can happen to someone of any age after they have had chickenpox, but it occurs much more frequently in the senior population. Unfortunately, this is the population that happens to fall into the general risk categories that accompany shingles.
Immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of shingles complications. This could be because of an autoimmune disease, cancer treatment, or just the general decline of an immune system that can occur with age. Stress can also bring about shingles. In these instances, it can be recurring. During periods of heightened stress, those with shingles often report itchiness and pain in impacted parts of their bodies. This is never a comfortable situation.
Shingles is contagious, but not in the way that we generally think about contagions. Because of COVID-19, we tend to think of illness as being spread through coughing or exchange of fluids. With shingles, this occurs through the blistered sore spots that can occur. If someone touches a shingles blister, there’s a chance that they can also get shingles–if they already have had chickenpox, that is. So, if a shingles infection does occur, it’s important to keep these covered up so that no one else is infected.
Shingles doesn’t tend to be a major ordeal, but it can be if other factors occur. Complications such as ongoing nerve damage can occur in about 10 to 15 percent of those that get shingles. Other, major complications can also occur, such as vision or hearing loss, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain. Each person is a little different, and prior history and other health factors plays a major role in how severely that person will be hurt by the illness.
Please speak to a medical professional about this (or any other topic on your mind) if you have more questions. This is just an overview article about some of the risks and consequences of shingles and shouldn’t be considered medical advice. A doctor can give you far more relevant and targeted information on this topic and ensure that you are steered in the right direction for your unique situation.
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