Anyone who has had Shingles can tell you what a painful nightmare it is. Fortunately there is an inoculation against it. Below our some facts about this condition. Boca Home Care Services recommends you consult with your doctor. Prevention makes much more sense than having to treat it.
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The herpes zoster virus is the culprit causing virus for both chicken pox and shingles. It infects about a million people each year. It is predicted that over half of all people in the U.S. will contract shingles by the age of eighty. Shingles is more common in seniors, age sixty plus because aging adversely affects our immune system, but if you had the chicken pox as a child, you can contract shingles at any age.. Yes, Shingles is very common – and so are the myths about it.
People can contract shingles when the chicken pox virus is reactivated from being dormant, affecting a side of the body. The virus nests in the nerves of the spine and can emerge due to a change in immune system, age, illness or some serious stress. It will break our into the body with a as a painful rash on the skin. It may follow a period of extreme fatigue and usually goes through three stages; extreme pain, or a prickly sensation along the nerve corridor, a very itchy rash and then blisters – like chicken pox.
Good news, if you did have the chicken pox you cannot catch shingles from someone who has it. Otherwise, it is contagious from direct contact with the rash in someone who hasn’t already had chicken pox. Shingles are not considered to be contagious prior to the rash appearing or once it has crusted over. If you are around someone who has an active rash from shingles, you may wish to wear gloves or avoid touching them around the rash.
It is possible, though unlikely to contract shingles more than once. The occurrence of more than one infection is under five percent.
Beyond the intense pain of shingles, an outbreak in an elderly person can cause other complications. Like any type of debilitating pain, sleep is affected and depression can follow. An outbreak on the face, in the eye or ear can cause seeing and hearing impairment. If shingles are not treated swiftly then blindness can occur. Additionally, a case of shingles can be further complicated by bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, some facial paralysis or encephalitis.
Shingles are serious, especially in a frail aging person who may also have other health issues. Shingles can be mostly prevented.
Since 2006, there has been a shingles vaccine. It has proved to reduce the risk of a shingles outbreak by half. If you are 60 or older, speak to your doctor and schedule an appointment to get the vaccine. If you are younger and had the chicken pox, also consult with your physician and consider getting inoculated against the shingles. If you are a PRIMARY CAREGIVER, your health is paramount as you are caring for an ill spouse or family member. Speak to your doctor and get vaccinated.
Speak with a Medicare Registered Nurse for questions about Medicare home health care if you have the Shingles.