Shingles can be a very annoying disease that causes rashes and headaches and is thought to affect one in four adults in their lifetime.
Last time, This morning Host Holly Willoughby said she would get sick from the program when she recovered. The infection is caused by the widespread varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
It is usually contracted when children have chickenpox, but the virus remains dormant in the body and may reactivate in later years. In the UK, about 90% of adults have had chickenpox, leaving the virus dormant in their nervous systems.
Here’s everything you need to know about shingles and how to treat it.
What are the symptoms?
A person with shingles develops a painful rash that can appear anywhere on the body, but most often on the chest and abdomen.
Early signs of shingles may include tingling or soreness in the skin, headache, or general malaise.
The rash can appear as patches of skin that turn into itchy blisters that can burst and leak fluid, according to the NHS. It can also appear on your face, eyes, and genitals. If it occurs around your eyes, it can affect your vision, and if a severe case is left untreated, the infection can cause permanent eye damage.
After a few days, the blisters dry up and turn into crusts. If the rash appears on both the left and right side of the body, it is unlikely to be shingles.
Is lichen contagious?
Shingles is not contagious and you cannot spread it, but if you come into contact with someone who has not had chickenpox and has not been vaccinated against it, they can get it from you.
However, if you have shingles, the NHS advises you to stay away from pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, people with weakened immune systems, and newborns.
Is there a vaccine to protect against shingles?
It exists, but is only available on the NHS for people over 70 because the disease can kill one in 1,000 people over 70 who get it.
Vaccination reduces the risk of shingles and may reduce symptoms if infected. If you’ve already had shingles, you can still get a vaccine to protect yourself from reinfection, but you may have to wait up to a year after your recovery before you can get the vaccine.
The vaccine only needs to be given once, but people who cannot get regular vaccinations for health reasons need two doses.
How is it treated?
Shingles can take up to a month to heal on its own, but it can take longer and be more serious for people over 50.
Patients are advised to take acetaminophen for pain relief and apply a cool compress to the rash, keeping it clean and dry, to reduce the risk of infection.
However, in serious cases, you should see a doctor or call 111. If you experience symptoms such as a large rash or spots around the eyes, or if you have a weakened immune system, you should see a doctor urgently.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.