Ages 50 and Above at Risk to Shingles Disease

(PIA) — Persons who are 50 years old and above are at high risk in developing shingles otherwise known as herpes zoster which is characterized by fluid-filled blisters often accompanied by debilitating pain, depending on severity.

Dr. Mitzi Montebon-Chua, associate professor of the Cebu Institute of Medicine bared that according to studies, 95 percent of adults over 50 are at risk to developing shingles and around 50 percent of those that reach 85 years of age are likely to acquire the disease.

“Shingles may not be fatal but the pain can be severe and the period of recovery can take up to one month due to the low immune system of the elderly,” said Chua during a recent roundtable discussion with media that aims to hike public awareness about the disease.

The virus that caused shingles is varicella zoster virus (VCZ), the same virus that causes chickenpox, said Chua adding that transmission is airborne.

Those who have had chickenpox already has the virus in their system and this virus just “sleeps” in the nerve roots that can be reactivated later in life as shingles, said Chua.

In shingles very early stage, abnormal sensations or itching will be experienced even before the rashes or blisters occur while symptoms include rash eruption that is typically painful, then blisters and eventually crusting within seven to 10 days.

Unlike chickenpox where blisters are spread throughout, shingles is usually concentrated in one area only, said Chua who has been trained on infectious diseases at the University of the Philippines- Philippine General Hospital.

In the Philippines, the incidence of shingles is one out of 10 cases is the leading cause of morbidity since 1989 while there are 35,306 cases reported in the country based on the 2001 data of the Philippine Health Statistics (PHS). The same PHS data also revealed that 45 Filipinos out of 100,000 population developed shingles.

Women are more prone to men and commonly affected were the 51 to 60 age group, said Chua citing the same PGH study.

Cases in the country further showed most were found in the thoracic area equivalent to 52.04 percent mimicking angina and second affected site is the lumbar usually mistaken as suffering from kidney stone at 23.53 percent.

Complications from shingles include hearing loss, skin infection, muscle weakness, pneumonia and visual impairment if this occurs around the eyes.

“Shingles can be a great burden for the elderly because their tolerance to pain is relatively lower. So this is not just a health issue. It also diminishes their quality of life,” explained Chua.

Chua urged high-risk individuals to be vaccinated against shingles as this helps reduce the risk of the virus reactivation which in turn can lower the risk of developing shingles.

The only vaccine available in the country was launched just last October by MSD, a tradename of Merck & Company in the US and costs around P7,500. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)