Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes
zoster, is a painful skin rash. It is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV),
the same virus that causes chickenpox. Nearly 1 out of every 3 people in the
United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. Anyone who has had
chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine in the past may develop shingles.
Even children can get shingles. However, the risk of getting the disease
increases as you get older. About half of all cases occur in men and women who
are 60 years old or older.
Shingles is a painful rash that develops on
one side of the face or body. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over
in 7 to 10 days and clears up within 2 to 4 weeks.
Before the rash develops, people often have
pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. This may
happen anywhere from 1 to 5 days before the rash appears.
Most commonly, the rash occurs in a single
stripe around either the left or the right side of the body. In other cases,
the rash occurs on one side of the face. In rare cases (usually among people
with weakened immune systems), the rash may be more widespread and look similar
to a chickenpox rash. Shingles can affect the eye and cause loss of
vision. Other symptoms of shingles can
include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.
Some people are have a greater risk of
getting shingles. This include people who have medical conditions that keep
their immune systems from working properly, such as certain cancers like
leukemia and lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and people who
receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids and drugs that given after
organ transplantation.
People who develop shingles typically have
only one episode in their lifetime. However, a person can have a second or even
a third episode.
Shingles vaccine (Zostavax®) reduces the risk
of developing shingles and the long-term pain from post-herpetic neuralgia
(PHN) caused shingles. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
recommends shingles vaccine for people aged 60 years and older. Even people who
have had shingles can receive the vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of
the disease.
Livingston County Health Center offers
shingles vaccinations for adults through our Tuesday Walk-In Clinic. Some insurance companies pay all or most of
the cost of the shot, others pay nothing.
If you have insurance, bring your card so we can determine the lowest
possible cost.
The Health Center was awarded a grant through
the Senior Citizen Tax Fund, to offset part of the cost to receive a shingles
vaccination at age 60 or older. The
funds are intended for Livingston County residents who are uninsured or who
have insurance with a co-pay. LCHC also
pays for a portion of the vaccine, making the final cost of the shot $100.
Vaccinations will be given through our
Tuesday Walk-In clinic beginning February 2nd. County residents may come in from 8 a.m. to
12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to get vaccinated.
S
Source: CDC
No comments:
Post a Comment