Shingle Essay

Prior to reading the article I had an idea of what shingles was, and heard some information regarding the epidemic of shingles, but never knew exactly what it was. While reading the article I discovered that shingles is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which is actually the same virus that produces chickenpox that produces a painful skin rash within the host. Since shingles is a part of the herpes family it usually appears as a strip of blisters anywhere on the body.

This article addresses Shingles also known as herpes zoster which originates from the virus that also causes chicken pox. The burden of this disease is that it causes severe pain and rash with a blistering. According to this article there is an increased risk of a stroke or heart attack within the first week of your diagnosis.

Shingles is a virus that causes a tender rash located anywhere on the body. The torso and face are common areas for shingles to occur, and usually appears just as a strip of blisters. The shingles virus can affect anybody, but is more likely to occur in adults. Varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, can lead to shingles. Once someone has had chickenpox, it remains in the body located in nerve tissue close to the spinal cord. After a number of years, it can reappear as the shingles virus. The virus remains in the body and can flare up at different times, but some people never experience the return of this virus. It is not possible to get shingles if one has never been exposed to chickenpox.

Varicella zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Therefore, if a person has previously had chickenpox at younger age they are more likely to get Shingles because that same virus is dormant in their body. The virus stays dormant around the nerve tissue of spinal cord for a long time after the person have had chickenpox. The shingles virus can

Do you have Shingles? Are you infected with the virus and don’t even know that you are infected? Have you ever experience the painfulness of shingles. Shingles is a virus that is known as varicella zoster it’s the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus lays dormant in the body for a long time and can become active later in life.

Nearly 1 out of every 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. It is estimated that one million or more shingles cases occur each year in the United States. Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes pain, burning, or a tingling sensation, along with an itch and blisters that usually form on one side of the body (figure 1).

Finally, there is a vaccine that has been shown to reduce the number of cases of shingles in patients over the age of 60 known as Zostavax. This is a one-time vaccine used to actually prevent the disease. It is given subcutaneously in a patient’s arm. It is important to educate the patient that even though it is a proven immunization for fighting shingles, Medicare Part B (the patient’s medical coverage) does not cover the vaccine. The patient may have Part D coverage (prescription coverage) that will cover the vaccine, however, it must be given at a pharmacy, not a physician’s office or clinic setting. This is confusing for the patient, causing some of them to forego the vaccine altogether. Some patients believe that once they have had the shingles they do not need to get the vaccine. However, this is untrue. As this is a virus that stays within the body even after an outbreak, the best way of preventing further outbreaks is with the immunization. If a patient presents with active skin lesions, the vaccine literature advises waiting until resolution of these lesions prior to receiving the vaccine. As our children have an immunization schedule, it is now becoming practice that our aging adults also have an immunization schedule. This schedule now includes pneumovax (pneumonia vaccine), influenza vaccine, TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)

There are different kind of people who have the most vulnerable to shingles disease. The first kind of people who can get the Shingles are people that got chickenpox disease. For example children that got chickenpox maybe they get also shingles when they get older. The second kind is the people who direct connect with the rash because the virus cannot be transmitted to the people by the air. However, Herpes zoster is very common, especially in older people such as people between 50 to 60 years old.

Shingles is a very painful and often a very harmful condition. This virus is generated by the same virus (herpes zoster) none as chickenpox’s. After one gets chickenpox, the virus can lie inactive in the sensory nerves for at least 20 years. It reappears when the disease fighting system is weakened by age, disease or unmanaged stress. When events happen that decrease the disease fighting system, such as getting older, extreme emotional stress, extreme illness, or long-term usage of drugs, the disease fighting system cannot hold down and stop the inactive organisms any longer and they become active again, causing infection along the pathway of the nerve. Shingles is a very painful disease that affects the immune system; however,

If you have had chickenpox during your childhood, it is sure that the virus has stayed in your system for numerous of years. But the virus has then been reactivated in later life, and that’s what causes the skin disease called “Shingles,” to develop. As well as chickenpox, there are other diseases which weakens our immune system. For example, HIV and/or AIDS can also cause Shingles to develop. Shingles is not considered a life threatening virus, but can become quite painful. Shingles is an extraordinarily painful condition that involves inflammation of sensory nerves.

Shingles are more likely to show up in adults who have had the chickenpox in their childhood. The shingles are caused by a viral infection known as the varicella-zoster virus. This virus is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses (herpes zoster). Although shingles is part of this group, it is not the same in that it is not a virus that is responsible for sexually transmitted diseases. Shingles can be very painful and cause many types of infections, but it is not life-threatening and it is treatable.

The next set of recommended vaccines for adults are from the age of 60 and older. The elderly are exposed to many diseases due to weakened immune systems. According to the CDC 1 million adults are exposed to shingles and about 60 percent are hospitalized due to the influenza virus (CDC, 2016). They recommend getting the Flu vaccine, Varicella and Zoster vaccine to protect against the two previously mentioned. Another vaccine that is important is the Td or Tdap which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The pneumococcal vaccine protects the elderly against the bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Some of the first symptoms of shingles may include intense side pain, itching, tingling, and burning. The symptoms most commonly appear before the rashes or blisters. Then red patches on the skin form. These turn into clusters of blisters in stripes most commonly on the sides of the torso, but may appear on the eyes, face, mouth, and ears. The blisters break soon after this leaving the skin open to ulcers forming. The ulcers form a crust or scab to protect it. The scab will fall off in approximately two to three weeks. Scarring usually does not exist. Additional symptoms include chills, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, headache, joint pain, and difficulty moving some facial muscles.

The Varicella-Zoster virus causes a very infectious disease called Chickenpox. Chickenpox is usually acquired through the inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets from an infected host. Chickenpox is primarily acquired during childhood , with more than 90% of all reported cases occurring in children under the age of 10. A person with chickenpox can spread the virus without even showing any signs or symptoms. It is usually most easily transmitted two to three days before a rash appears and keeps that high transmission rate until the blisters have crusted over.

Chicken Pox is a virus caused by varicella-zoster, a member of the herpes family. This same virus also is a cause of herpes zoster other known as shingles in adults. Chicken pox is very contagious and can easily spread to people. Chicken pox is acquired by coming into contact with the fluid of a chicken pox blister, or airborne by an infected person sneezing near you. The blister-like rash usually lasts five to ten days. The incubation period lasts 10-21 days and a person with chickenpox becomes contagious one to two days before their blisters appear. The person with chicken pox remains contagious until all the blisters have crusted