Can You Die From the Disease Shingles?

Shingles is a secondary condition of infection with the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that also causes chickenpox. Shingles mainly afflicts aging people and the immunocompromised (those whose immune are not normally functioning), and it is potentially fatal. However, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the severity and duration of shingles symptoms, and medical treatment for shingles is often very effective.

Shingles in the Aging

• According to a study by Angel Gil, et al., of the Department of Health Sciences at Rey Juan Carlos University, the case-fatality rate of shingles is 4.6 per cent. This increases as does the age of the infected person, reaching 7.2 per cent by the 80 and over age bracket. Another paper by VW DeLaGarza, et al., of the Department of Family Medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine suggests that developing shingles may be a sign of mortality within three years of outbreak.

Shingles in the Immunocompromised

• People whose immune systems have been weakened are at increased risk for disseminated VZV-disease, meaning that the zoster infection spreads throughout the body. According to the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section of the Office of Public Health at the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals, in addition to the spreading of zosters, the central nervous system, kidneys and lungs may be affected, and the immunocompromised are at increased risk of death from VZV reactivation. A paper by Ammar M. Ahmed of the Baylor College of Medicine notes that it is necessary to develop new preventative measures to aid those whose immune systems have been weakened as shingles vaccination is contraindicated for these persons.

Vaccination

• The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a vaccine for shingles; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is recommended for use in adults over the age of 60. It is not recommended for use in people who have become immunosuppressed, whether due to disease, such as advanced HIV, or through treatment for other conditions, such as chemotherapy and radiation for cancer, which also weakens the immune system. Although the use of shingles vaccination may not prevent a shingles outbreak, it may reduce both the severity and duration of symptoms. According to Seth John Stankus, MAJ, MC, et al., preventative measures for shingles will help decrease mortality and morbidity.

Complications

• Some people develop a herpetic rash a result of shingles vaccination. This rash is not generally dangerous to those who develop it; however, just as is the case with an actual shingles outbreak, it is possible to transmit the virus through close contact with people who have not yet had chickenpox.

Varicella and Pregnancy

• When a pregnant mother contracts VZV during the first 30 weeks of pregnancy, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports that the child is at risk for birth defects (this condition is known as congenital varicella syndrome). An infant born to a mother who has contracted VZV in the few days leading up to birth may also face a serious case of chickenpox that is potentially fatal. However, a mother who develops shingles during pregnancy (vs. contracting VZV for the first time) does not face the same risks.