Shaking the Shingles

CBN.com - With the advent of the chicken pox vaccine, parents can be thankful that for parent and child alike the itchy rash is a disease of the past.

But adults who are part of the sandwich generation may still go through one more bout with the varicella zoster virus (the virus that causes chicken pox) -- this time with their parents who are at increased risk for developing shingles as they age.

Shingles, which can affect anyone who has had either chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine, is a painful skin rash often accompanied by blisters. The rash typically appears on one side of the face or body and lasts from two to four weeks. The most common symptom is pain, which can be quite severe, and for one in five individuals, continues after the rash clears up.

There is no way to predict who will come down with shingles or when it will strike. Often the symptoms, which may be felt before the rash develops and can include tingling, itching, or burning, develop suddenly.

After chicken pox, the virus remains inactive in the body in certain nerves. It may become active again as shingles and can cause serious complications.

• Anyone who has had chicken pox is at risk for shingles.
• Shingles often affects individuals with weakened immune systems.
• It is more common as one ages, which is primarily due to the immune system weakening with aging.
• One out of every two people who live to 85 will have shingles.
• About half of the nearly one million cases of shingles in the U.S. each year strike people over the age of 60.
• Pain associated with shingles is due to nerve damage caused by the virus.
• Shingles can be very painful, often described as burning, throbbing, stabbing, or shooting, and may last even after the rash disappears, sometimes even for months or years.
• Long-term nerve pain is more painful and lasts longer in older adults.
• Complications such as skin infection, muscle weakness, scarring, and a decrease or loss of vision or hearing are serious problems associated with shingles.

My mother recently developed shingles, and I have to admit I only had a vague idea of what it was before her experience. It was something I had heard of but didn’t know anything about.

Typical of most shingles cases, my mom first noticed a burning sensation around her right eye. At first she didn’t have a rash, but she continued to complain of pain, and suddenly the rash appeared over the right side of her face. There were several red splotchy patches that covered her cheek and extended over her scalp but did not cross over to the left side of her face.

It is important to consult with a doctor, especially in cases such as my mom’s, where blistering occurred near the eye. Anti-viral medication was initiated and screening performed to ensure there were no complications with her vision.

The rash did go away within a couple of weeks, but my mom still complains of fairly severe headaches, even though several weeks have elapsed since the virus first hit.

So even though the days of chicken pox with your children may be an illness of the past, it may rear its head in the life of your parent.

Copyright © 2007 Kathy Pride. Used by permission.