Interesting Facts on Shingles

Varicella-zoster is the virus that causes chicken pox. After a person has had the chicken pox, the virus lays dormant in the body and may reactivate later to cause shingles. Shingles is a painful rash that may contain blisters and cause numbness.

Spreading

• The virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, this virus is so contagious that just being in the same room as someone with chickenpox can cause infection.

Risk

• Anyone who has ever had chickenpox is at risk for getting shingles. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that HIV, chemotherapy, radiation treatment organ transplants and stress can all increase the risk of a shingles outbreak.

Prevalence

• According to the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 90 percent of all Americans over the age of 15 has had chickenpox and may therefore develop shingles.

Complications

• Shingles can result in a painful condition called herpetic neuralgia. This nerve pain can affect a person's life a much as heart attack, congestive heart failure, diabetes and severe depression.

Prevention/Solution

• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that there is a vaccination available to prevent chickenpox. People who have already had chickenpox can be vaccinated against shingles, however this vaccination only prevents shingles 50 percent of the time.