Shingles Research Paper

Words: 528
Pages: 3

Shingles is an infection of an individual nerve and the skin surface that is applied by the nerve. It is a disease caused by the varicella- zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is most common in people over age 50, but anyone who has had the chickenpox is at risk. The reason shingles occurs is unclear, but it may be due to a weaker immune system as you grow older. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus continues to live in some of your nerve cells. Shingles itself is not a contagious disease. If you have a shingles rash, you can pass the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox. The virus spreads through direct contact with the rash, and cannot spread through the air. There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in the United States, with 1 in 3 people developing shingles during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. …show more content…
This can be a constant burning, growing pain, or stabbing that comes and goes. There may also be a blistering skin rash that usually appears in one or more well defined bands, called dermatomes. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing a rash. The signs and symptoms may include: sensitivity to touch, pain, burning, numbness or tingling, itching, a red rash that begins a few days after the pain. Some people may also experience headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, nausea, fever, and sensitivity to light. Approximately 1-4 percent of individuals who develop shingles require hospitalization for complications, and 30 percent of those have weak immune