Shingles Disease - What is Shingles Disease? 

Shingles disease, or herpes zoster, is a painful viral infection, which is caused by the chickenpox virus. The Shingles disease develops only in those people who have had chicken pox. After chicken pox, the virus remains in the nerve roots and then resurfaces in the body years later to cause illness. More than 1 of every 10 people who had chicken pox as children get shingles disease as adults, usually over age 60. It is more common after the age of 50 and the risk increases with advancing age. 
Shingles disease causes a very painful skin rash, numbness, and itching or severe pain usually on one side of the body. It takes a person around 4 weeks to fully recover from a shingles attack. 
Shingles disease and chickenpox were once considered separate disorders. But they are both caused by a single virus of the herpes family known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Doctors use two different terms to describe the two different diseases:
· Varicella: the primary infection that causes chickenpox. 
· Herpes zoster: the reactivation of the virus that causes shingles. 
It is not clear why the virus reactivates in some people and not in others. The common explanation is that when the immune system becomes weak; due to diseases such as AIDS, cancer, or during organ transplant when drugs are given to suppress the immune system. Aging also increases the risk for shingles. 

Like most viral infections; there is no cure for shingles, the disease must run its full course. However there are several medications that can reduce the severity of the infection, reduce the pain and inflammation and provide relief from itching. The main treatment of shingles disease includes antiviral medication such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) or valacyclovir (Valtrex). 

Recently a new vaccine against shingles has become available. Called Zostavax, it is a single shot vaccine for people above the age of 60. The vaccine is given as a single injection under the skin, preferably in the upper arm and costs $152.50. 

For more information about the shingles disease and its symptoms, treatment and other information please visit www.shingleshelpline.com