A vaccine for shingles was licensed in 2006. A single dose of vaccine is available for adults
over aged 60 and older. Patients should always consult their physician before getting
this vaccine,

Shingles is a painful nerve inflammation accompanied by skin rash and/or blisters.
It is sometimes called Herpes Zoster. Only people who have had chickenpox in
the past can get shingles.There are about 300,000 cases of shingles that occur
each year in adults over 50. Early signs of a shingles outbreak are often vague,
and can easily be mistaken for other illnesses. The first sign of an attack can be
an isolated pain or numbness in a major nerve in or under the skin or a "shooting"
pain around the trunk or down the arm or leg. Mild flu-like symptoms, such as
headache, fever and upset stomach, may also occur. Sometimes symptoms can
be confused with other illnesses, such as an ulcer, ruptured disc, pneumonia,
appendicitis, or even a heart attack. However as the outbreak progresses,
the symptoms become clear and the diagnosis is made more definite.

A shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and can last from
two to four weeks. Pain is its main symptom, which is sometimes severe.
Other symptoms may include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.

One of five patients suffer severe pain after the rash disappears. This is called
post-herpetic neuralgia. Unfortunately, this virus stays in your body and may
appear again many years later.

You cannot catch shingles from another person with shingles. However, a person
who has never had chickenpox could get chickenpox from someone with shingles.

For more information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc
or call 1-800-232-4636.

Want to read more on this topic: Try WebMD.com or Health.NIH.gov

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