EXPLAINER: What are shingles and how do you protect yourself from it?
Warning: This story contains images of shingles that may be disturbing.
It's one thing to get rashes on your body brought about by allergies or bacteria, but it's another thing to get shingles, especially for older adults who have weaker immune systems.
The illness is definitely not something to be taken lightly, as it is known to cause rashes on your skin that can leave you with a painful and burning sensation. If your immune system isn't that strong, shingles can also worsen into serious complications that can prove fatal.
Symptoms and causes of shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes painful rashes with fluid-filled blisters, and this usually appears in one specific area of the body.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, dermatologist Fatima Omangayon explained that this infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same one that causes chickenpox.
"If you’ve had chickenpox before, the virus stays in your body and can become active again later in life, causing shingles," she said.
Apart from painful rashes, fellow dermatologist Emmerson Silverio Vista said that a person can also suffer from fever, body pain, and malaise or the feeling of weakness and overall discomfort.
"As we age, there will be a decrease in immunity, so there will be a reactivation of the virus related to your immune status. This is common among [the] elderly, patients with comorbidities, or [those who] have a decreased immune system," Vista said.
"Normally, you cannot acquire it through air or skin-to-skin contact, but if you're exposed to a person with shingles, there is a tendency for another person to develop varicella if he or she has no history of chicken pox," he added.
The most common areas to get affected are around the waist, chest, abdomen, and back. However, shingles can also appear on your face, legs, arms, and genitals.
Are shingles dangerous?
It's important to stress that shingles is not usually dangerous to healthy individuals. However, this is a different case for people whose body's natural defense system is not as strong, like the elderly.
"Shingles can cause complications and serious health problems, especially if left untreated," Omangayon warned.
According to her, one complication that can happen is Postherpetic neuralgia, a "long-term nerve pain in the area where the rash was, even after the rash has healed."
"If affecting the eye area, it can lead to painful eye infections and, in severe cases, may cause vision loss," Omangayon added.
Other serious complications include infections, scarring, pneumonia, and hearing loss.
Another health issue that can occur is encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Vista underscored that this is potentially life-threatening as it "could progress to develop infection in your brain related to shingles."
"The shingles can affect the nerves of the body, which can also weaken them or destroy them, so [it's] better to see a dermatologist if you have suspicious lesion for shingles so that they could diagnose you right away and give you the proper treatment," he added.
What are the treatment plans for shingles?
If you suspect that you may be suffering from shingles, don't panic as there are antiviral medications available to help fight against the virus and alleviate your discomfort.
"Early treatment with antiviral medicines can help speed up recovery and reduce pain, while also preventing it from spreading to other areas," Omangayon said.
If the burning sensation is too much for you, she recommended using pain relievers to help manage discomfort.
"Cool compress and numbing creams may also provide relief by easing itch and irritation," she advised.
Still, it's best to consult a medical professional, such as doctors of medicine, dermatologists, and doctors of osteopathic medicine, as the medications can be given as oral or intravenous depending on the severity of the condition, per Vista.
Luckily, there is also a vaccine available in the Philippines that can help lower your chances of getting shingles and its possible complications.
The SHINGRIX vaccine has been proven to be more than 90% effective in preventing shingles in adults 50 years and older in clinical trials. It can also be used for adults aged 18 years and older who are or will be "at increased risk of herpes zoster due to immunodeficiency or immunosuppression caused by known disease or therapy."
Healthcare clinics and facilities such as Kindred Health Inc., Hi-Precision Diagnostics, and Juan Medical offer shingles vaccination for prices ranging from around P8,350 to P12,000 per dose.
"You can get single more than one, so it's better to get protected through vaccine, or better to make sure that your immune system is strong to lessen the chance of getting the shingles. Or in case you have shingles, less chance of developing the complication," Vista said.
Those who have shingles must also do their part to protect others from getting it.
According to Omangayon, you can do this by "keeping the rash covered to prevent spreading the virus and avoiding touching or scratching the blisters to reduce the risk of transmission."
You should also wash your hands often to prevent spreading the virus to surfaces or others and avoid contact with people who haven’t had chickenpox or the vaccine, especially pregnant women, newborns, and those with weak immune systems.
