Shingles
 
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Shingles is a painful skin rash. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus remains in the body after a person has recovered from chickenpox and can reappear years or even decades later in the form of shingles.

Shingles cases are reported worldwide.

The symptoms of shingles include: a painful, itchy rash that begins on one side of the face or body, fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach
 

Shingles cannot be spread from person to person. However, the virus that causes shingles can be spread to a person who has never had chickenpox through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed to the virus will develop chickenpox, not shingles.

·         Avoid direct contact with a rash of an infected person

·         Do not touch the rash if infected to avoid spreading it to others

The initial symptoms of shingles can occur years or even decades after recovering from chickenpox.

Several medicines, such as Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir, are available to shorten the duration of the disease and lessen the severity of symptoms. Pain medications may also be prescribed to alleviate the pain associated with shingles. 

A vaccination is also available for shingles, but it is not available through the Health Department at this time. The CDC recommends that everyone 60 years of age and older receive the vaccine.

For more information online, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/dis-faqs.htm.  

Or, for more information on the Health Department’s programs, please call 859.341.4264.