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Ask the Health Experts: Learning About Shingles
Q: What causes shingles?
A:
“Shingles is a painful rash
caused by the same virus
that causes chickenpox,” says
Georgios Giannakopoulos, D.O.,
of Riverview Medical Center.
“After you’ve had chickenpox,
the virus remains in certain
nerve cells.”
Illness, trauma, a weakened
immune system, or stress may
“awaken” the virus later in life and
cause it to reappear as shingles.
Shingles is most common in
people ages 50 and older. The
first signs of shingles are pain,
itching, or tingling on one side of
the body or face. Within a few
days, a rash appears in the same
area and may be accompanied by
fever, headache, stomach upset,
or diarrhea.
Q: How is shingles treated?
A:
Although there is no cure,
there are treatments that
can decrease your symptoms. Your
doctor will probably prescribe antiviral
medications to reduce the
length and severity of the illness.
“These medicines work best if you
start taking them within the first three
days of getting the rash, so call your
doctor as soon as you notice symptoms,”
says John Gumina, M.D., chief
of Family Practice Medicine at Jersey
Shore University Medical Center.
Very rarely, shingles can cause
permanent damage. If shingles
appears on your face, it can affect
your hearing or vision. About one
in five patients experiences pain
that continues long after the rash
clears, a condition called postherpetic
neuralgia.
“Sometimes pain can precede the
rash by a week, so when in doubt, see
your doctor,” Dr. Gumina concludes.
Q: How can I protect
myself from getting
shingles?
A:
Anyone who has had chickenpox
can develop shingles.
However, in 2006 the Food and Drug
Administration approved a vaccine
called Zostavax for people ages 60
and older. “The vaccine cuts the risk
of developing shingles by about half,”
says Maria Polizzi, M.D., of Ocean
Medical Center. “And if you develop
shingles, the vaccine can reduce
the severity of the infection and the
amount of time you have pain.”
The vaccine is given only once in
your lifetime and is recommended
for most adults older than age 60.
All Medicare Part D (prescription
drug) plans cover the shingles vaccine,
but Medicare Part B does not. If you
have private insurance or Medicaid,
contact your insurer to find out if
you are covered.
Talk with your doctor about
getting the shingles vaccine.
Georgios Giannakopoulos, D.O.
Board certified in Internal Medicine
Holmdel | 732-888-7381
John D. Gumina, M.D.
Board certified in Family Practice
Freehold | 732-625-3166
Maria Polizzi, M.D.
Board certified in
Internal Medicine
Howell | 732-458-9760
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