Shingles is a serious infection for anyone, but especially for seniors. An estimated one million people in the United States get shingles each year, and most of those are age 50 and above (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). About one-third of the people who get shingles will develop serious complications, and the complications caused by shingles are increasingly more common after age 60 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). One in five of those inflicted with shingles will have pain that lingers long after the shingles episode is over (AfterShingles.com).
Shingles comes on very quickly and manifests itself as a painful rash of blisters, usually concentrated around either the left or right side of the torso. A person who has had chickenpox is more likely to develop shingles later in life because shingles is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that evokes chickenpox. The virus lays dormant in the body after chickenpox has come and gone, but it can flare up at any time, returning as shingles. Shingles is more common in people with immune systems weakened by chemotherapy, radiation treatment, transplant operations, stress, and HIV infection.
Early detection and immediate treatment with medication are key to combating shingles. For best treatment results, a person should see a doctor at the first sign of shingles. The doctor can determine if blisters are shingles just by looking at them and will administer treatment right away. The initial symptoms of shingles are typically felt on only one side of the body or face. These signs are tingling, itching, and burning or shooting pain. A person may also experience achiness, headaches, fever and chills, and fatigue. A rash and fluid-filled blisters soon follow and remain for up to 14 days.
The condition of pain following a shingles episode is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and can last for months or even years. In fact, a person has an increased chance of getting PHN as they age. A 50 year old has a 50 percent chance of developing PHN. An 80 year old has an 80 percent chance of developing PHN (Aftershingles.com).
The most common symptom of PHN is the acute sensitivity of the skin where the shingles rash occurred. The skin is hyper-sensitive to the lightest touch from clothing, a gentle breeze, or even a change in temperature. The affected area may also remain an abnormal temperature, appear discolored, sweat more, or lose muscle tone. Medications are effective in dealing with the pain associated with PHN.
To help a person keep track of the pain experienced after having shingles, Aftershingles.com offers this Pain Checklist and Discussion Guide. This is helpful information for a doctor to have when he or she begins treating the condition.
Complications can also occur when shingles appear on the face, which can lead to problems with hearing and vision. If the shingles infection gets into the eye through the eye’s ophthalmic nerve, damage can occur to the cornea, leading to temporary or permanent blindness.
No cure exists for shingles. It is not life threatening, but it is painful. Shingles must be treated with medication such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famcyclovir. The sooner a person begins treatment, the better the chance that the severity and the length of the outbreak will be reduced and subsequently, that long-term pain associated with a shingles episode will be less as well.
The best line of defense against shingles is a vaccine injection, usually given in the upper arm.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the shingles vaccine for people over age 60. It prevents the reactivation of the virus in the body, and while not 100 percent effective, the vaccine may reduce the intensity and length of a shingles outbreak. Medicare or other health insurance policies may not cover the vaccination, so check your policy for coverage.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the shingles vaccine is not recommended for people who:
Have ever had a life threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of the shingles vaccine.
Have a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, lymphoma, or leukemia
Are receiving immune-system-suppressing drugs such as steroids, adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), radiation, or chemotherapy
Have active, untreated tuberculosis
Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Medical experts estimate that the vaccine could prevent 250,000 cases of shingles annually, and another 250,000 cases would not be as severe (NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).
A quick response to symptoms of shingles will make a big difference in how the infection progresses, the resulting pain and any complications. Ask your doctor about the shingles vaccination, and take control of preventing shingles.
Reprinted by Always Best Care Senior Services with permission from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
The Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) program provides the advanced knowledge and practical tools to serve seniors at the highest level possible while providing recipients a powerful credential that increases their competitive advantage over other professionals. The CSA works closely with Always Best Care Senior Services to help ABC business owners understand how to build effective relationships with seniors based on a broad-based knowledge of the health, social and financial issues that are important to seniors, and the dynamics of how these factors work together in seniors’ lives. To be a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) means one willingly accepts and vigilantly upholds the standards in the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility. These standards define the behavior that we owe to seniors, to ourselves, and to our fellow CSAs. The reputation built over the years by the hard work and high standards of CSAs flows to everyone who adds the designation to their name. For more information, visit www.society-csa.com.
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