What Should Seniors Know About Shingles Prevention and Treatment?
Shingles is a painful condition caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus that remains dormant in nerve cells. Risk increases significantly with age, making prevention particularly important for seniors. Understanding shingles and available vaccines helps seniors protect themselves from this painful condition.
Understanding Shingles
Anyone who had chickenpox carries the varicella-zoster virus in dormant form in nerve tissue. When immunity weakens, typically with age or illness, the virus can reactivate as shingles. About one in three Americans will develop shingles during their lifetime.
Shingles typically appears as a painful rash on one side of the body, often in a band around the torso or on the face. The rash develops blisters that scab over in seven to ten days. Most cases resolve within two to four weeks, but complications can cause lasting problems.
Symptoms
Shingles often begins with pain, burning, or tingling in an area where the rash will appear. Pain may precede visible rash by several days, making early diagnosis challenging. Fever, headache, and fatigue may accompany the outbreak.
The rash typically appears as a band of blisters on one side of the body, following a nerve pathway. Blisters may be intensely painful and sensitive to touch. The affected area may remain painful even after the rash heals.
Complications
Postherpetic neuralgia, persistent nerve pain after the rash heals, is the most common complication. This pain can last months or years and be severely debilitating. Risk of postherpetic neuralgia increases with age, affecting about 10 to 15 percent of shingles patients overall but much higher percentages in older adults.
Shingles on the face can affect the eye, potentially causing vision loss. This requires immediate ophthalmology evaluation. Rarely, shingles can cause hearing loss, brain inflammation, or other serious complications.
Prevention Through Vaccination
The Shingrix vaccine is highly effective at preventing shingles and its complications. Two doses given two to six months apart provide over 90 percent protection. Protection remains strong for at least seven years after vaccination.
Shingrix is recommended for adults 50 and older, even those who previously had shingles or received the older Zostavax vaccine. The vaccine is safe for most people, though temporary side effects including arm soreness and fatigue are common.
Medicare Part D covers Shingrix, though there may be a copay depending on your plan. The vaccine is available at pharmacies and doctor’s offices. Two doses are required for full protection.
Treatment
Antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir reduce shingles severity and duration when started within 72 hours of rash onset. Early treatment also reduces risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Seek medical care promptly when shingles symptoms appear.
Pain management may include over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, or topical treatments. Cool compresses and calamine lotion may soothe the rash. Keep the rash clean and covered to prevent bacterial infection.
Getting Shingles Prevention
All Seniors Foundation encourages all eligible seniors to get the shingles vaccine. Prevention is far better than treating this painful condition. Contact us if you have questions about shingles vaccination or need assistance accessing the vaccine.
