Latest news with #shingles
Health Line
4 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
How Long Does Shingles Last? What to Expect
Key takeaways In general, shingles may last 3 to 5 weeks. You may experience shingles symptoms like localized itchiness, burning, tingling pain, and oozing blisters for up to 10 days. Medical professionals recommend getting treated with antivirals within 72 hours of seeing a rash, as this may decrease the intensity and duration of shingles and prevent future complications. Shingles is an itchy, burning, and typically painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you've ever had chickenpox, the virus may live dormant in your system for years. If it reactivates, it will cause shingles. How long do symptoms of shingles last? You may experience shingles symptoms like localized itchiness, burning, tingling pain, and oozing blisters for up to 10 days. You may continue to see crusting and scabs from the rash for up to 5 weeks. You may also get shingles more than once. This could happen a few months and up to 10 years after your first infection. Some people may never experience shingles again. You can learn more about shingles recurrence here. Symptoms of shingles may feel and look different depending on the stage of the infection and which nerve pathways are affected. How long does each stage of shingles last? Early symptoms of shingles may appear before you see a rash on the affected area. These symptoms may last up to 5 days and include discomfort, tingling, or just a twinge under your skin. The sensation may be similar to having something constantly irritating your skin. Early symptoms may appear anywhere on your body, usually on one side only. Even if you don't see a rash, these spots will feel sensitive to the touch. Usually within 5 days of the first symptoms, a rash will develop in the affected area. You may notice redness and swelling. As the rash develops, small groups of liquid-filled blisters will also form. These blisters may start to ooze within 7–10 days after you first see a rash. Oozing blisters from shingles may last 1–2 weeks and then begin to dry up and crust over to form scabs. You may see scabs for 1–3 weeks after that. For some people, the rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, including fever, light sensitivity, and a general feeling of being unwell. These symptoms typically last 1–5 weeks. In rare cases, shingles may present without a rash, which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. How long does shingles pain last? You may experience different levels of pain from day one until the blisters dry up at around week 5. However, shingles pain usually intensifies as a visible rash develops, about 4 or 5 days after you experience the first symptoms. In some cases, you may experience shingles pain for about 3 months or longer. This is known as postherpetic neuralgia and relates to nerve damage. How long does shingles itching last? You may experience itching since day one of a shingles infection. The itching may stay mild or gradually worsen. Itching from shingles typically lasts up to 5 weeks until all the scabs from the rash clear up. However, some people may experience itching after the shingles rash has cleared and this may last months or years. You can learn more about itching from shingles here. Complications of shingles Although shingles may last 3–5 weeks, complications of an untreated infection may lead you to experience symptoms for longer. Complications of shingles may include: bacterial infections on the skin at the rash site, usually from Staphylococcus aureus vision problems, if a shingles rash develops near or around your eyes hearing loss, facial paralysis, loss of taste, ringing in your ears, and vertigo, if a cranial nerve is affected pneumonia, hepatitis, and other infections, if your internal organs are affected The duration of these complications may vary depending on your age, overall health status, treatment approach, and how soon you get a diagnosis. In rare cases, untreated shingles may lead to death. What treatment options are available for shingles? Healthcare professionals may recommend you start antiviral treatment for shingles within 72 hours of noticing signs of a rash. Depending on your symptoms, treatment for shingles may include over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, including: antivirals anti-itch ointments, creams, and patches antihistamines anti-inflammatories In some cases, they may also prescribe antidepressants or anticonvulsant drugs to help with pain relief. When to seek care A shingles outbreak may resolve on its own, although experts recommend you see your healthcare professional as soon as a rash appears. Prompt treatment may affect the intensity and duration of your symptoms and may prevent complications like prolonged pain. You may also need to seek care if pain persists after the rash has cleared or if you have developed new symptoms. If you haven't received the shingles vaccine, your healthcare professional can explain if and when you need it.
New York Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right.
Kim Beckham, an insurance agent in Victoria, Texas, had seen friends suffer so badly from shingles that she wanted to receive the first approved shingles vaccine as soon as it became available, even if she had to pay for it out of pocket. Her doctor and several pharmacies turned her down because she was below the recommended age at the time, which was 60. So in 2016, she celebrated her 60th birthday at her local CVS. 'I was there when they opened,' Ms. Beckham recalled. After her Zostavax shot, she said, 'I felt really relieved.' She has since received the newer, more effective shingles vaccine, as well as the pneumonia shot, the R.S.V. vaccine, annual flu shots and all recommended Covid vaccinations. Some older people are really eager to be vaccinated. Robin Wolaner, 71, a retired publisher in Sausalito, Calif., has been known to badger friends who delay getting recommended shots, sending them relevant medical studies. 'I'm sort of hectoring,' she acknowledged. Deana Hendrickson, 66, who provides daily care for three young grandsons in Los Angeles, sought an additional M.M.R. shot, though she was vaccinated as a child, in case her immunity to measles was waning. For older adults who express more confidence in vaccine safety than younger groups, the past few months have brought some welcome research. Studies have found important benefits from a newer vaccine and enhanced versions of older ones, and one vaccine may confer a major bonus that nobody had foreseen. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Sun
31-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm suffering from neuralgia in my head after having shingles for seven or eight weeks – help!
Q) I AM suffering from neuralgia in my head after having shingles for seven or eight weeks. Do you have a cure for the pain, which is now in the left hand side of my face, affecting my eye and my tongue? My head is sore from the nape of my neck to the top of my head. A) Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. It's a long-lasting pain that affects areas where shingles rashes were present, including the eye and potentially the tongue. It usually gets better eventually, but can vary from a few months to over a year. Different types of painkiller medications may need to be tried. Paracetamol or paracetamol with codeine helps some people. Medicines to treat nerve pain would usually be tried next, such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin. These may not work straight away – the dose is usually increased gradually over weeks until it becomes effective. It's important to be aware of the potential side-effects before starting them. Plasters containing lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) can help some people manage pain of the skin, but not the eye or tongue. Others benefit more from CBT talking therapy, which can be particularly useful if the pain is impacting your daily activities. Live fat jab Q&A Are you curious about side- effects, whether they could be right for you, or how to best eat while on them? Send me your questions for a Live Q&A on the hot topic. No question is too big, small or silly. Send your questions to the address below.
News24
27-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Why most people in South Africa can't get the shingles vaccine
The only shingles vaccine available in SA was discontinued last year. A newer and better vaccine is available in some other countries. While it has not yet been registered in South Africa, it can be obtained by those with money who are willing to jump through some hoops. Shingles is a common and painful condition that mostly affects the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It generally appears with a telltale red rash and cluster of red blisters on one side of one's body, often in a band-like pattern. 'Shingles is pretty awful to get - it's extremely painful, and some people can get strokes, vision loss, deafness and other horrible manifestations as complications,' said infectious disease specialist Professor Jeremy Nel. 'Shingles really is something to avoid, if at all possible,' he added. One way to prevent the viral infection, is by getting vaccinated against it. But while two vaccines against shingles have been developed and broadly used in the developed world, neither of these are currently available in South Africa. Zostavax, from the pharmaceutical company MSD, was the first vaccine introduced to prevent shingles. It was approved for use in the United States in 2006 and in South Africa in 2011. It is 51% effective against shingles in adults over 60. A more effective vaccine, Shingrix, that is over 90% effective in preventing shingles was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the United States in 2016. It is not yet authorised for use in South Africa, but GSK has submitted paperwork for approval with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), said the company spokesperson, Kamil Saytkulov. The superior protection offered by Shingrix compared to Zostavax quickly made it the dominant shingles vaccine on the market. As a result, MSD discontinued the production and marketing of Zostavax. MSD spokesperson Cheryl Reddy said Zostavax was discontinued globally in March 2024. Before then, the vaccine was sold in South Africa's private healthcare system for about R2 300, but it was never widely available in government clinics or hospitals. No registered and available vaccine Since Zostavax has been discontinued and Shingrix remains unregistered, the only way to access a vaccine against shingles in South Africa is by going through the onerous process of applying to Sahpra for a Section 21 authorisation - a legal mechanism that allows the importation of unregistered medicines when there is an unmet medical need. 'Access will only be available to those who are able to get Section 21 approval' and 'this is a costly and time-consuming process, requiring motivation by a doctor,' said Dr Leon Geffen, director of the Samson Institute For Ageing Research. The cost of the two-dose Shingrix vaccine imported through Section 21 authorisations is currently around R15 600, said Dr Albie de Frey, CEO of the Travel Doctor Corporation. People who do go through the effort of getting Section 21 authorisation typically have to pay this price out of their own pockets. 'Shingrix is not covered [by Discovery Health] as it is unregistered in South Africa and is therefore considered to be a General Scheme Exclusion,' Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, told Spotlight. The Department of Health did not respond to queries regarding whether Section 21 processes are being pursued for priority patients in the public sector or whether there has been any engagement with GSK regarding the price of this product. People who receive organ transplants, for example, should be prioritised to receive the shingles vaccine as the medications they are given to suppress their immune system puts them at a high risk of developing shingles. Why is the price of Shingrix so high? Unlike South Africa, where companies must sell pharmaceutical products at a single, transparent price in the private sector, the United States has no such requirement. Even so, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pays $250 or R4 600 for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine through CDC contracts. This is less than a third of the price charged when Shingrix is imported into South Africa. Equity Pharmaceuticals, based in Centurion in Gauteng, is importing GSK's Shingrix for patients that receive Section 21 authorisations to use the unregistered vaccine. It is unclear what price Equity Pharmaceuticals is paying GSK for Shingrix to be imported into South Africa under Section 21 approvals, or what Equity Pharmaceuticals' mark up on the medicine is. When asked about the price of Shingrix in South Africa, Saytkulov told Spotlight: 'Equity Pharmaceuticals is not affiliated with GSK nor is it a business partner or agent of GSK. Therefore, we cannot provide any comments with regards to pricing of a non-licensed product, which has been authorized for importation through Section 21.' READ | Childhood vaccine coverage in SA declined in 2023 - report Equity Pharmaceuticals also said it was difficult to comment on the price. 'The price of a Section 21 product depends on a number of fair considerations, including the forex rate, the quantity, transportation requirements, and the country of importation. Once the price and lead time are defined for an order, the information is shared with the healthcare provider to discuss with their patient and the medical aid,' the company's spokesperson Carel Bouwer told Spotlight. Nematswerani pointed out that 'Section 21 pricing is not regulated' and that price can change due to many factors including supplier costs, product availability, and inflation. What causes shingles? Shingles is caused by the same highly infectious virus that causes chickenpox. Most people are infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during childhood. Chickenpox occurs when a person is first infected by VZV. When a person recovers from chickenpox, the VZV virus remains dormant in their body but can reactivate later in life as one's immune system weakens. This secondary infection that occurs, typically in old age when the dormant virus reactivates, is called shingles. People who were naturally infected with chickenpox, as well as those vaccinated against chickenpox with a vaccine containing a weakened form of the VZV virus, can get shingles later in life. But, people who were vaccinated against chickenpox have a significantly lower risk of developing shingles later in life compared to those who naturally contracted chickenpox, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The chickenpox vaccine is available in South Africa's private sector, but is not provided in the public sector as part of government's expanded programme on immunisation. Chickenpox is usually mild in most children, but those with weakened immune systems at risk of severe or complicated chickenpox should be vaccinated against it, said Professor James Nuttall, a paediatric infectious diseases sub-specialist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town. Who should be vaccinated against shingles? South Africa does not have guidelines regarding who should receive the shingles vaccine and when they should receive it. The US CDC recommends that all adults over 50 receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. They also recommend that people whose immune systems can't defend their body as effectively as it should, like those living with HIV, should get the vaccine starting from age 19. While Shingrix works better than Zostavax at preventing shingles, it has other advantages that make it a safer and better option for people with weak immune systems. The Zostavax vaccine contains a weakened live form of the VZV virus and thus poses a risk of complications in people with severely weakened immune systems. 'In the profoundly immunosuppressed, the immune system might not control the replication of this weakened virus,' explained Nel. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain any live virus and therefore does not present this risk. ALSO READ | Best shot: Parents urged to have children jabbed amid outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases In March 2025, the WHO recommended that countries where shingles is an important public health problem consider the two-dose shingles vaccine for older adults and people with chronic conditions. '[T]he vaccine is highly effective and licensed for adults age 50 years and older, even if they've had shingles before,' according to the WHO. It advised countries to look at how much the vaccine costs compared to the benefits before deciding to use it. The cost of not vaccinating against shingles The cost of not vaccinating against shingles is high for people who develop the condition, as well as the health system. '[T]he risk of getting shingles in your lifetime is about 20 to 30%... by the age of 80 years, the prevalence is almost 50%,' said Geffen. He added: Shingles is often a painful debilitating condition, with significant morbidity. It can result in chronic debilitating pain which affects sleep, mood and overall function. Beyond preventing shingles and its complications, new evidence suggests that getting the shingles vaccine may also reduce one's risk of developing dementia and heart disease. In April, a large Welsh study published in Nature reported that people who got the Zostavax vaccine against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia seven years after receiving the vaccine compared to those who were not vaccinated. In May, a South Korean study published in the European Heart Journal reported that people vaccinated against shingles had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart disease, for up to eight years after vaccination.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
How dementia could be triggered by cold sore virus: Cutting-edge research shows it can inflame your brain. But doctors say there's a free NHS jab that can slash your risk - and reveal what to ask for
Could something as simple as getting a shingles jab significantly reduce your risk of dementia? That's the intriguing possibility raised by a growing body of scientific research, which points to common viruses as the true cause. Just last week researchers reported that people who'd had antivirals to treat another herpes virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) which causes cold sores, had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
