Issue 43.15
Shingles is skin rash that is usually localized and very painful. This rash is linked to the “varicella” zoster virus which is the aftermath of the chickenpox virus and may lie dormant in your body long after you have recovered from chickenpox. This virus tucks away in the nerve cells of your body and may never reappear. But as we age our chances of this virus reappearing increases long after the chickenpox illness leaves.
It is estimated about 1 million people suffer from an outbreak of shingles every year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although children and middle-aged persons do not suffer these breakouts as often as adults over the age 60 and does not show bias between female or male. It is unusual to experience more than one outbreak but a lot of time they do occur more than once.
In the literature the out break of shingles begins forming on one side of your body (torso or face) accompanied by pain, itching/tingling (very similar to a cold sore on your lip which is called a {prodrome}). When these symptoms appear a painful rash follows with blister-like sores that will ultimately scab over in about a week to 10 days. You may also experience other symptoms very similar to the flu i.e. fever, headache, chills, nausea. Once the shingles breakout it takes about 2-4 weeks to clear up. For people who have never had chickenpox comes into contact with shingles virus, they could develop the chickenpox however this virus doesn’t pass from person to person, generally.
Shingles can cause long term problems caused post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) which causes severe pain where the rash was and last for a long time. The CDC states it is rare among people under 40 years old but in people over 60 much higher chance of developing this condition.
Providers are recommending men and women over the age 60 have a shingles vaccine which can help prevent shingles or at least minimize the outbreaks should they occur. It is usually a one-time vaccine.
Chrysalis Clinical Research and Doctors in our area are conducting a clinical research trial comparing an already approved medication to a new treatment medication for prevention of the post herpetic pain (neuralgia) and treatment of acute herpes zoster-associated pain.
Trials that are currently enrolling: Type 2 diabetes, Osteoarthritis of the knee, children ages 6-11 with the common cold, IBS-C, asthma
For more information on the above clinical trial or information for other trials that are currently being conducted call: Chrysalis Clinical Research 435-656-1704.