I've already had the Chickenpox, but I'm still at risk?

One out of three Americans will have shingles, a painful skin rash, often accompanied by blisters, at some point in their lives. There are an estimated 1 million cases of this possibly debilitating condition each year in the United States.  

Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus which remains in the body and can reactivate decades after the initial chickenpox infection. Ninety-eight percent of adults have been infected with the chickenpox virus, so nearly everyone is at risk.

Because the chickenpox virus is never fully cleared from the body, the virus remains dormant in the nerve tissues. The virus reactivates when physical or emotional stresses to the body weaken the immune system. It then spreads along the nerve fibers to the particular area of the skin supplied by the involved nerve.

Sheldon Levine, D.O., a family medicine physician at Advocate South Suburban Hospital, says that the first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, or sometimes numbness in a localized spot on only one side of the body. After a few days, the rash and blisters will develop. Shingles can be severe and long lasting. As people get older, they are also more likely to develop long term nerve pain or post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is extremely painful and can last from 30 days to months or even years after the rash has resolved. The older you are, the more at risk you are.

Dr. Levine agrees with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recommending the vaccine for shingles (Zostavax®) for use in people 60 years old and older to prevent the condition. Research suggests that the shingles vaccine is effective for at least six years, but may last much longer.

“Anyone 60 years of age or older should get the shingles vaccine, regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox or not”, said Dr. Levine. “The shingles vaccine may help you avoid getting shingles. And if you've had shingles, the shingles vaccine may help prevent a recurrence.”

The shingles vaccine contains a weakened chickenpox virus. The vaccine helps stimulate your immune system to fight against the disease caused by the chickenpox virus, reducing the risk of getting shingles. In scientific studies, the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by about 50%. Findings show that the shingles vaccine also helps people who may still develop shingles to have shorter periods of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The shingles vaccine also works to stop the spread of the virus just like childhood immunizations.

To learn more about the shingles vaccine, talk with your doctor. If you need a doctor, call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622) or visit www.advocatehealth.com/ssub.