Some may develop shingles more than once. About 1 in 4 people will develop shingles in their lifetime, more commonly seen in people over 50 yrs. Once you have had chickenpox, you will always be at risk of developing shingles. A course usually lasts for seven days and is generally well tolerated. Other helpful treatments include calamine lotion for the itch and painkillers to manage the pain. The anti-viral medication is most effective if given within 72hours of the rash appearing. This is especially important if the rash affects certain parts of the body, the rash is causing severe pain and inflammation, or the patient is above 50 years of age or is immunosuppressed. In addition, it can minimise post-infection complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia (PNH). However, in specific clinical situations, a course of anti-viral medications can reduce the duration and severity of the shingles rash. Like other viral infections, shingles will resolve on it’s own if left untreated. However, unhealthy coping mechanisms such as increased drinking and smoking are behavioural coping strategies that indirectly affect the immune system. How we cope with stress differs for each individual. The cortisol released during stressful situations can suppress the immune system’s effectiveness by lowering the number of lymphocytes. In addition, the autonomic nervous system is stimulated during a stress response, prompting the release of adrenaline and cortisol into your body. An acute stress response is triggered by a release in hormones, either prompting us to stay and fight or run to safety. We know that stress triggers a “fight or flight response”, a physiological reaction to an event. COVID fatigue, job pressures, and family situations are some stressors people face in the current climate, which can be challenging to cope with daily.
Any number of stressors can lead to a weakened immune system. However, emotional stress can weaken the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to defend against illnesses.
Essentially, emotional stress doesn’t cause shingles as we know the virus is already lying dormant in the body.
Shingles is a reminder that the mind and body are not separate. People below 40 years rarely experience PHN. Approximately 10-18 % of shingles sufferers will develop PHN, the risk increases as you get older. The pain can last for months or even years, significantly impacting the quality of life. You may experience pain even after the inflammation settles. PHN can occur in areas where the shingles rash occurred. The most common complication of shingles is long term nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
The Varicella-Zoster virus lies inactive in the nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain, waiting for a trigger to set it off in the form of shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles later in life. It is also known as the Herpes Zoster virus. Shingles are caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Issues with eyesight (only when it affects the eyes).Sensitivity to light (only when it affects the eyes).Fluid-filled blisters that burst open and then typically crust over in 7-10 days and fully clear up within 2-4 weeks.An inflamed rash that begins after the pain.The symptoms generally only affect a small section of one side of your body. The rash can occur anywhere on your body although, it often appears as a stripe of blisters that wrap around the left or right side of your torso. Shingles is a viral illness in which a painful rash develops.
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