At this time of year, as we transition from summer to fall, there are some diseases to keep an eye on. It's called shingles. The term "object" refers to the shape of a band. 'Herpes' refers to blisters. In other words, it is a disease in which band-like blisters appear only on either side of the body. It occurs when the chickenpox virus, which you suffered as a child, has been hiding in your body for a long time and then comes out of your skin when the seasons change or when your immunity decreases due to overwork.
According to statistics from the National Health Insurance Service in 2016, 690,000 people suffered from shingles. Globally, Korea is one of the countries with the highest incidence of shingles. It is so common that 1 in 3 people will experience it at least once in their lifetime. Here are 5 things you need to know about shingles.
Don't overwork yourself
There is a virus in most of the body. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of U.S. adults born after 1980 and in their 40s have chickenpox virus. This is because when they are young, they often suffer from chickenpox lightly without realizing it. Almost all of us have shingles in our bodies.
In the end, it's more important to keep the bomb from exploding than the bomb itself. In fact, 2 out of 3 people will never get shingles in their lifetime, even if they have the virus. Shingles is overexertion that acts as a fuse for the bomb to explode.
When you are overworked, your immunity decreases. In addition, the change of seasons itself can reduce immunity. Therefore, we should not be greedy and overwork during this changing season.
In the end, it's more important to keep the bomb from exploding than the bomb itself. In fact, 2 out of 3 people will never get shingles in their lifetime, even if they have the virus. Shingles is overexertion that acts as a fuse for the bomb to explode.
When you are overworked, your immunity decreases. In addition, the change of seasons itself can reduce immunity. Therefore, we should not be greedy and overwork during this changing season.
Can be contagious
Unlike chickenpox, shingles is weakly contagious. So, you don't have to worry too much about your family or other people around you, but you have to be careful because it can be contagious if you are careless. In particular, care should be taken not to come into contact with the patient's blisters. The blisters contain an active virus that can be passed on to others. However, if the rash or blisters in the early stages have subsided and scabs have formed, rest assured that there is little chance of transmission.
What's interesting is that when you get infected through contact with blisters, the infected person doesn't get shingles, they get chickenpox. This is because shingles and chickenpox are the same virus, and when infected with these viruses, it is chickenpox, not shingles, that initially appears acutely
What's interesting is that when you get infected through contact with blisters, the infected person doesn't get shingles, they get chickenpox. This is because shingles and chickenpox are the same virus, and when infected with these viruses, it is chickenpox, not shingles, that initially appears acutely
It needs to be treated quickly
Shingles is well treated thanks to excellent antiviral drugs. It shortens the duration of illness and relieves symptoms. However, these drugs are effective only if they are used quickly. The sooner the better. At the latest, the drug should be used within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms on the skin. This is because if it is late, a complication called "postherpetic neuralgia" is likely to come. This is a disease that manifests itself as a result of damage and destruction of the nerves themselves by a virus.
Postherpetic neuralgia is very painful. They say it hurts like a knife cutting their flesh. Some people say that it hurts like a fire. Even a slight breeze can make it tingle. Some people complain that it hurts much more than when they had a baby. This can be done for weeks or years, with excruciating pain. Common anti-inflammatories do not work, so nerve destruction or narcotic painkillers are also used.
Therefore, it is important to detect it early and treat it as soon as possible. Shingles initially begins with headaches, sensitivity to light, and cold symptoms that make the body feel sick and unpleasant. A few days later, a red rash appears on the skin of the back, chest, and other parts of the body. If you go to the hospital and treat it, most people will heal well without suffering from serious complications such as postherpetic neuralgia. However, if blisters are discovered after a long time and treatment is started late, the effect is less effective and complications are more likely to occur.
If you think that you are overworking yourself, but you start to have cold-like symptoms and rashes and blisters on either side of the skin on your torso, face, or neck, please go to the hospital as soon as possible
Postherpetic neuralgia is very painful. They say it hurts like a knife cutting their flesh. Some people say that it hurts like a fire. Even a slight breeze can make it tingle. Some people complain that it hurts much more than when they had a baby. This can be done for weeks or years, with excruciating pain. Common anti-inflammatories do not work, so nerve destruction or narcotic painkillers are also used.
Therefore, it is important to detect it early and treat it as soon as possible. Shingles initially begins with headaches, sensitivity to light, and cold symptoms that make the body feel sick and unpleasant. A few days later, a red rash appears on the skin of the back, chest, and other parts of the body. If you go to the hospital and treat it, most people will heal well without suffering from serious complications such as postherpetic neuralgia. However, if blisters are discovered after a long time and treatment is started late, the effect is less effective and complications are more likely to occur.
If you think that you are overworking yourself, but you start to have cold-like symptoms and rashes and blisters on either side of the skin on your torso, face, or neck, please go to the hospital as soon as possible
If you're over 60, get vaccinated
There is a vaccine to prevent shingles. It has also entered our country. You can also get it by going to your local clinic. The cost varies from hospital to hospital, but it usually costs around 190,000 won. It is not a mandatory vaccination, but you have to pay for it yourself. This vaccine only needs to be given once, but unfortunately it is only 51% effective, and about half of the people can get shingles even if they get the vaccine.
However, the vaccine is said to prevent the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, the most serious complication of shingles, by 67%. I think that's more important. So, if you can afford it, it's a good idea to get vaccinated.
The same goes for people who already have shingles. This is because people who get it once can get it again in the future. Some people relapse three times. A 2009 study in the United States found that 5% of shingles patients relapsed within 8 years.
The probability of recurrence was strongly related to the duration of pain. Those who had pain that lasted for more than 30 days had a 2.8 times higher rate of recurrence than those who did not. Women were 60% more likely than men, and those aged 50 and over were 40% more likely than those who were not.
In conclusion, if you have had shingles once, but you are a woman, you are over 50 years old, and you have had pain that has lasted for more than 30 days at the same time, you are at high risk of recurrence and should be vaccinated. However, in this case, it is safe to wait at least 6 months after having shingles before receiving the vaccine.
If you've never had shingles, it's best to get it after the age of 60. This is an official recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the world's leading authority on vaccines. The vaccine has been approved after the age of 50, but it actually means that it is better to get it after the age of 60. The reason for this is that the vaccine is at its most effective for up to five years after vaccination and then decreases. This means that if you get it too early, it may be less effective in preventing it when you are old. However, there is no upper age limit.
The CDC has a strong opinion that it is safe to get the vaccine six months after the end of treatment if you are currently undergoing chemotherapy and three months after the end of treatment if you are taking steroids to reduce inflammation.
However, the vaccine is said to prevent the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, the most serious complication of shingles, by 67%. I think that's more important. So, if you can afford it, it's a good idea to get vaccinated.
The same goes for people who already have shingles. This is because people who get it once can get it again in the future. Some people relapse three times. A 2009 study in the United States found that 5% of shingles patients relapsed within 8 years.
The probability of recurrence was strongly related to the duration of pain. Those who had pain that lasted for more than 30 days had a 2.8 times higher rate of recurrence than those who did not. Women were 60% more likely than men, and those aged 50 and over were 40% more likely than those who were not.
In conclusion, if you have had shingles once, but you are a woman, you are over 50 years old, and you have had pain that has lasted for more than 30 days at the same time, you are at high risk of recurrence and should be vaccinated. However, in this case, it is safe to wait at least 6 months after having shingles before receiving the vaccine.
If you've never had shingles, it's best to get it after the age of 60. This is an official recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the world's leading authority on vaccines. The vaccine has been approved after the age of 50, but it actually means that it is better to get it after the age of 60. The reason for this is that the vaccine is at its most effective for up to five years after vaccination and then decreases. This means that if you get it too early, it may be less effective in preventing it when you are old. However, there is no upper age limit.
The CDC has a strong opinion that it is safe to get the vaccine six months after the end of treatment if you are currently undergoing chemotherapy and three months after the end of treatment if you are taking steroids to reduce inflammation.
Vaccinate children in elementary schools with chickenpox
The chickenpox vaccine is important not only for preventing chickenpox but also for preventing shingles in the future. If you don't get chickenpox with the chickenpox vaccine, there's no reason to get shingles decades later. The herpes zoster vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine use the same virus to be weaker. However, unlike the shingles vaccine, which is given only once, the chickenpox vaccine requires two doses to be effective.
In Korea, babies aged 12 to 15 months are vaccinated free of charge. However, around the age of 4 or 6, it is recommended that they be vaccinated once more before entering elementary school. In this way, more than 90% prevention effect can be expected.
Nowadays, tens of thousands of chickenpox cases occur in groups every year in Korea because they do not receive booster vaccinations. The booster dose is not a mandatory vaccination and must be paid at your own expense. It costs about 4-60,000 won. Still, it is better to give our children a booster vaccination to prevent chickenpox and even shingles
In Korea, babies aged 12 to 15 months are vaccinated free of charge. However, around the age of 4 or 6, it is recommended that they be vaccinated once more before entering elementary school. In this way, more than 90% prevention effect can be expected.
Nowadays, tens of thousands of chickenpox cases occur in groups every year in Korea because they do not receive booster vaccinations. The booster dose is not a mandatory vaccination and must be paid at your own expense. It costs about 4-60,000 won. Still, it is better to give our children a booster vaccination to prevent chickenpox and even shingles
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