SHARES
It was a peaceful night. Alice had just put her grandchildren to sleep. As she got prepared to sleep, she felt a burning pain over her right shoulder. Upon examining herself in the mirror, she found small red bumps around the area. “They are probably bug bites,” she thought to herself, while reminiscing the family picnic she had earlier in the evening.
The pain became unbearable the next morning. Suspecting that it could be yet another episode of shingles, Alice went to the clinic to get checked. As expected, the doctor immediately diagnosed her with shingles. Accordingly, he prescribed antiviral and pain killer medicines to manage her condition.
Shingles (herpes zoster), is due to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It appears as a stripe of blisters that wraps around left or right of the torso. Almost one in three adults have shingles. Anyone who had chickenpox can contract shingles. However, it is more severe in those age 60 years and older.
The same VZV virus also causes chickenpox, an itchy, blister-like rash. The first exposure to the virus will result in chickenpox. Once the infection has healed, the virus remains dormant in the base of the spinal cord. When the person’s immune system is weakened, the virus reactivates later in life to cause shingles.
Can shingles or chickenpox spread from one person to another?
Although shingles is contagious, it is not possible to contract shingles from someone else. The reason is that virus infection will first present as chicken pox and not as shingles. The virus can transmit through direct contact with the open sores of shingles rash. Therefore, if you have not had chicken pox or its vaccine (and particularly if you are pregnant), avoid infection from someone with shingles, at least until the shingles blisters scab over.
On the contrary, chickenpox can easily spread to another person through direct contact with the rash or through inhalation of air droplets when a person with chickenpox coughs or sneezes.
What are the characteristic symptoms of shingles and chickenpox?
Shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of the body. Normally, shingles first break out with pain, itch or tingling sensation. It then progresses to a red rash that appears a few days later, usually seen as a stripe of blisters that wraps around one side of the torso. Rarely, the rash occur around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.
Eventually, the rash would become fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over. However, some people may suffer from shingles pain without ever developing rash. Sometimes, the pain can be so intense that it is mistaken for other conditions affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys.
Shingles (Source: WSU Insider)
Chickenpox cause itchy blisters appearing 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Generalised symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, headache or tiredness start first before the classic rash appear. The rash begins as raised pink or red bumps (papules), progressing to small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) all over the body. These blisters then break and leak, causing crust or scab to form over them to allow healing.
Chickenpox (Source: HealthLink BC)
Complications to fear from shingles and chickenpox?
Both shingles and chickenpox can lead to bacterial infection of the skin. This is if the blisters are not properly cared for.
However, chickenpox can be serious in severe cases, even life-threatening. This is especially true in babies, young adults, pregnant women and people with low immunity. Beyond that, chickenpox rarely causes serious complications, which include dehydration, pneumonia, brain inflammation, toxic shock and death.
On the other hand, shingles cause long-term complications, occurring in one in ten patients or more. The most common complication is long term nerve pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This nerve pain involves a persistent pain over the rash that may last for years in some cases. The risk is higher with age, as at least 10 % of people over age 60 were found with PHN after an episode with shingles. Other complications also include vision & hearing loss, pneumonia and brain inflammation, or death. Nonetheless, treatment with anti-viral medications within 72 hours of symptoms onset can reduce pain and resolve symptoms sooner.
Can I protect myself from shingles and chickenpox?
Yes, you can! Fortunately, vaccines are available for both shingles and chickenpox. People over age 50 and in good health should consider shingles vaccination to reduce the chance of getting shingles. If infection do occur, the symptoms are often milder, and the chances of developing complications are lower.
Similarly, chickenpox vaccination is highly recommended for young children as part of childhood vaccination schedule. Unvaccinated individuals who never had chickenpox and individuals at high risk of exposure are also given this vaccine.
Conclusion
The same virus, varicella-zoster virus causes both shingles and chickenpox. While chickenpox is generally relatively harmless, shingles can have lasting complications that can decrease the quality of life. Therefore, consult your doctor to protect you and your loved ones through vaccinations.
Further read: Shingles is Dangerous, Vaccinate before it Strikes like a Lightning Bolt!
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
