The U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that adults age 50 and older get vaccinated against shingles. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine. The CDC recommends Shingrix for adults 50 years and older, whether or not they have already had shingles or previously received the Zostavax vaccine, which has been used since You should get two doses of Shingrix, two to six months apart.
While Zostavax is still available, studies show it is less effective than Shingrix. Zostavax may be used in some healthy adults 60 years and older, for example, in those who are allergic to Shingrix.
The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia PHN , which is long-term nerve pain. A person with PHN may feel pain in the area of the shingles rash for months or years after it goes away.
The older a person is when they develop shingles, the higher the risk of PHN. People younger than 40 years are unlikely to experience PHN. Recurrent shingles may be a sign that a person has an underlying health condition that is weakening their immune system.
Some chronic conditions that researchers associate with recurrent shingles include:. A person should speak with a doctor if they notice shingles symptoms. The first symptom of shingles is usually painful and tingling skin, which can sometimes also be itchy. Other early symptoms include fever and an upset stomach.
If the pain is severe or OTC pain relievers are not working, a person should talk with their doctor about taking prescription pain relievers. If the rash spreads to the face and is near the eyes, a person should ask a doctor for advice. Shingles around the eyes could lead to severe complications, including vision loss. Recurrent shingles occurs when a person repeatedly develops shingles. Risk factors for recurrent shingles include stress, immunosuppressant medications, and HIV.
Doctors recommend that people aged 50 years and over get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine to help prevent shingles. The first-line treatment for shingles is an antiviral medication.
People can soothe their shingles symptoms at home by taking OTC pain relievers and applying calamine lotion to their skin. It is important to keep the rash and blisters clean and dry to prevent infection and transmission. After the blisters scab over, shingles is no longer contagious. If a person repeatedly develops shingles, they may have an underlying health condition affecting their immune system. Shingles normally lasts 3 to 5 weeks, but there are some factors that may affect how long it takes to heal.
Learn more about what to expect. Most people recover from shingles in a few days, but a small number go on to develop severe pain along the nerve that was irritated when the virus came back. This lingering pain postherpetic neuralgia may last for weeks to months after the shingles episode, and it can be severe and very difficult to treat.
Reactivation of varicella-zoster virus and resultant shingles happens when your immune system is weakened by medications such as cancer treatments, steroids or simply by aging. Shingles is most common in people older than 50, and the risk of shingles continues to increase as people age. Some experts estimate that half the people who live to age 85 will experience shingles at some point in their lives.
A shingles vaccine is available to help prevent the disorder and reduce the likelihood of recurrent shingles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that all adults age 60 and older who have had chickenpox get the shingles vaccine.
Learn more here. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Shingles Recurrence: Facts, Statistics, and You. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.
Shingles can also erupt on your: arms thighs head ear eye An estimated 1 million people in the United States have shingles every year. You can also get shingles a second time. This is less common and known as shingles recurrence. What are the symptoms of shingles and recurring shingles? How often does shingles recur? What are the risk factors for recurring shingles? What is the treatment for shingles and recurring shingles?
What is the outlook for people with recurring shingles? Can you prevent recurring shingles? Read this next. Can Stress Trigger Shingles? What Is Internal Shingles? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Is Shingles Contagious? Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. What Does Shingles Look Like?
0コメント