Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Brenda

Listen to the Podcast on Spotify at Health IQ: Connecting the Dots

Shingles, a painful viral infection that most often affects people over 50. It’s a reactivation of the Varicella-Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.  The virus remains dormant in your body and resurface later in life as shingles.

Shingles often begins with a tingling or burning sensation in one side of the face or body. A painful, blistering rash may then appear.  Often the pain is severe and something people do not want to experience again.  While most people recover from shingles within a few weeks, some may experience lingering nerve pain, a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN can be severe and debilitating, lasting for months or even years.  Shingles can be contagious when the blisters are oozing, so it is important to avoid touching an affected area and if someone has shingles they should avoid young children or pregnant women.

There is an antiviral medication that can shorten the duration of the symptoms.  It is most effective if started within 3 days, so visit with your health care provider as soon as you suspect shingles. 

If you had chicken pox or even the chicken pox vaccine, you have the virus circulating in your system.  Having a strong immune system and keeping stress levels low, may prevent it.

The most effective way to prevent shingles is through vaccination. The Shingrix vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older. It’s a two-dose series that provides strong protection against shingles and associated complications.  This new vaccine was approved in 2017, so if you received a vaccine prior to 2017, you should get the new one which is more effective.

If you have already had shingles, the virus is active and you can get it again.  It may come back in the same location or someplace else.  The best protection is vaccination.  You must wait 90 days after recovering to start the series.  In Quay County you may make an appointment with our local pharmacy or your health care provider.

Chickenpox was considered something everyone got and because it is spread through both the air and droplets, would affect families and classrooms for weeks.  More than 4 million children infected yearly and many hospitalized and some died.  Getting chicken pox as an adult often resulted in a more severe cases.   In 1995 the vaccine was required for all school children.  This vaccine is given at 12 months and again at 4 years.  The success of this program has brought the cases of chicken pox worldwide to less than 150,000 cases.   Children no longer miss school and parents no longer have to stay home with children who have chicken pox missing work for a week.

The chicken pox vaccine is free of charge for all children in New Mexico.  The Shingles vaccine is covered by insurance as preventive care, so should not cost you anything.   Both of these vaccines have been around for a long time and are well tested.  Check with your healthcare provider to see if you or your children need to be vaccinated.