Robert asks…
Has anyone ever had the Shingles. It is a disease seniors can catch if they have had chicken pox when they?
were children. How long does it last? I have heard that it lasts about three weeks before the patient begins to feel better. And after this attack there is a vaccine available to keep the sickness from returning. Anyone know? I have a personal interest in this
admin answers:
You are right..except you get the vaccine before you get the shingles..You are lucky if it only lasts 3 weeks, It has been known to last months, with residual nerve pain lasting even longer..get the vaccine now before you get the shingles..or is it too late?
Lizzie asks…
how is the disease shingles contracted?
i need it for biology class
admin answers:
Shingles ( Herpes Zoster Virus, same as the chicken pox virus) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of the body. The rash usually occurs on your back or neck, and sometimes on your face around an eye. Once you have had chicken pox, the virus lies inactive in the nerve roots and remains inactive until, in some people, it flares up again. Anyone who has had chickenpox ( even a mild case) CAN get shingles, even those who are in good health. It is thought that the virus because active again when you immune system is weakened, emotional or physical stress may weaken the immune system. Being older than 50 puts you at a higher risk. Drugs or certain medications that slow down or suppress your immune system. Poor nutrition, radiation therapy, illness or disease( Diabetes, Lupus, Cancer, HIV)., emotional stress, physical injury, recently receiving or donating an organ.
Exposure to shingles will not cause you to develop shingles; however, if you had NOT had the chicken pox,and you are exposed to shingles, you can develop chicken pox.
Thomas asks…
is the disease shingles fatal?
my bff has just been diagnosed with shingles, i would really like to know if its deadly, it would seriouslyy help me out
admin answers:
No, they are not fatal. They itch like the devil and burn like fire, but your friend will make it through. They are most common in the elderly and young children, people with weakened immune systems basically. I got them when I was about 13 unfortunately and I was put on liquid codine for the pain. It affects the nervous system and the itchy scaly patches appear in locations with major nerves. That is why it usually appears on the back (think spinal column).
Carol asks…
is shingles a recurrent disease?
after shingles is treated and cured, does it attack its victim again?
admin answers:
Yes, singles is a virus that originated from chicken pox. The virus lives in your nerve roots and will attack again when the body is stressed and the immune system is weak. The treatment was not to kill the virus it was to improve symptoms and pain. Unfortunately there is no cure for shingles (also known as herpes zoster)
Jenny asks…
Is the disease, shingles, contagious?
My sister has it, and my whole family has had chicken pox before, so are we in risk of catching it from my sister?
Also, why does it usually occur in people over 60 years old? My sister is under 20.
admin answers:
If you have had chicken pox, you are immune to chicken pox. Shingles is not contagious in the form of shingles but can be contagious to people who have not had chickenpox in the form of chicken pox. Shingles attack persons with compromised or poor immune systems. That is usually why you see them in older people. The varicella virus that causes chickenpox may lie dormant in the body for years and emerge later as varicella zoster, commonly called shingles. People who get them should be careful not to be around those who have not been immunized or had chickenpox while they have the blister like rash. I know from my attack of shingles three months ago that it’s not over when the rash goes away. You can have pain from it, post herpetic neuralgia for many months after the rash is gone. Your sister may have had her immune system out of whack and had never had chicken pox hence got the shingles. I feel for her. Shingles typically present only on one side of the body but there are atypical cases that don’t follow that rule. My doctor prescribed Valtrex and it really helped.
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