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Shingles Zoster

Shingles is a painful localized skin rash often with blisters that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles because VZV remains in the nerve cells of the body after the chickenpox infection clears and VZV can reappear years later causing shingles.

Shingles usually starts as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash starts as blisters that scab after 3 to 5 days. The rash usually clears within 2 to 4 weeks. Before the rash develops, there is often pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach.

Shingles most commonly occurs:

  • in people 50 years old or older,
  • people who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, or
  • people who receive immunosuppressive drugs.

Very rarely, shingles can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. For about 1 person in 5, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up. This pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia. As people get older, they are more likely to develop post-herpetic neuralgia, and it is more likely to be severe.
 


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Shingles Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends Zostavax (TM) for use in people 60 years old and older to prevent shingles. This is a one-time vaccination. Zostavax (TM) does not treat shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone) once it develops.

The most common side effects in people who got the vaccine were redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the shot site, and headache.

Anyone 60 years of age or older should get the shingles vaccine, regardless of whether they remember having had chickenpox or not. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans ages 40 and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the disease.

All Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine. The amount of cost-sharing (money you have to pay) for vaccination varies.

Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine. If you have private insurance, your plan may or may not cover the vaccine; contact your insurer to find out.

Additional Information on Shingles and the Shingles Vaccine:

  1. Shingles Flyer Icon: PDF document
 

 

Last Updated: September 2, 2010

The purpose of this web site is both educational and informative.
Personal medical advice should be sought from your local health department or physician.

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