Shingles: People over 50 are particularly affected

95-99 percent of all adults have contracted chickenpox at some point in their lives and are immune to it. What few people know is that the chickenpox virus can be transmitted at any time as shingles (herpes zoster) may recur.

The reason for this is the peculiarity that the chickenpox virus remains in the body after the illness has been overcome. It then lies dormant in the nerve roots near the spinal cord and the brain. It can break out here if, for example, the strength of the immune system weakens. This is particularly the case in people over 50 years of age. If the dormant chickenpox viruses break out, they form an extremely painful, blistering rash. This appears on the skin area along a nerve tract (dermatome) and usually occurs with a simultaneous deterioration in the general condition. Flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever and Headache Wave-like pain along the nerve pathway can occur before the first skin reactions are noticeable. shingles In addition, itching and throbbing of the skin and severe hypersensitivity are often felt.

Antiviral therapy can relieve the symptoms of shingles mitigate

Anyone who starts antiviral therapy at this early stage, ideally within the first 72 hours after the onset, can shorten the duration of the illness and reduce pain. Shingles usually disappear within two to four weeks even without this therapy. During this time, people - especially small children - who have not yet had chickenpox can become infected through contact with the skin blisters. However, they then get chickenpox and not - as one would expect - shingles, because shingles itself cannot be passed on. In any case, if shingles are suspected, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. Doctor However, it becomes dangerous when shingles becomes chronic. People over 60 or patients with a weakened immune system are particularly susceptible to this so-called post-herpetic neuralgia.

Avoid years of pain as a result of shingles

The cause of the persistent pain resulting from shingles is the severely damaged nerve pathways. Early antiviral treatment alone can reduce the consequences of neuralgia such as loss of vision, hearing and balance problems, infections and persistent pain. Another alternative is a vaccination against herpes zoster with the live active ingredient Zostavax®. Such a vaccination makes sense from the age of 50. It does not matter whether you have had shingles before, as the vaccination also reduces the risk of getting shingles again. Once you have been vaccinated, the probability of getting shingles drops to 50 percent. In addition, should an outbreak occur, the symptoms are less severe. The vaccination also reduces the risk of years of pain from post-herpetic neuralgia by almost 60 percent. However, this is not yet a mandatory benefit of statutory health insurance. In general, it is important to seek medical advice before deciding to be vaccinated in order to individually weigh up the pros and cons of a vaccination against shingles.