Shingles

“Women, particularly during the menopause transition,
have higher rates of shingles than men, most likely due
to hormonal changes to their immune response”.1

Umbrella
What may the Shingles Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Herpes Zoster
  • Shingles
  • Zoster

Definition

What is shingles?

DotS the definition of shingles may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition is:

“Shingles is a painful, usually itchy, rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clear up within 2 to 4 weeks”.2

Chickenpox

What is the association between chickenpox and shingles?

In Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Singles – Cause and Transmission: Shingles is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox the CDC elaborate on:

“Once a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in their body. The virus can reactivate later in life and cause shingles. Most people who develop shingles only have it one time during their life. However, you can have shingles more than once”.3

Spread or Not

Can you spread shingles to others?

In Shingles: Stay Away From Certain Groups of People If You Have Shingles the (United Kingdom) NHS note:

“You cannot spread shingles to others. But people who have not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you.

This is because shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus”.4

Catch or Not

Can you get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox?

In Shingles: You Cannot Get Shingles From Someone With Chickenpox the NHS explain:

“You cannot get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox.

But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before”.5

Common or Not

How common is shingles?

In Shingles (Herpes Zoster) dated 03 February 2022, the CDC note:

“About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as herpes zoster, in their lifetime. An estimated 1 million people get shingles each year in this country. If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles”.6

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and shingles?

In Shingles: Everything You Never Thought To Ask (And How to Prevent It): Who Gets Shingles? the author elaborates on:

“Women, particularly during the menopause transition, have higher rates of shingles than men, most likely due to hormonal changes to their immune response. These changes at menopause can increase the rate of many immune-related diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis)”.7

Treatment

What antiviral medicines are available to treat shingles?

In Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Shingles – Prevention and Treatment: Treatment the CDC explain:

“Several antiviral medicines are available to treat shingles:

  • Acyclovir (ay-sah-EE-kluh-veer)
  • Valacyclovir (va-luh-sah-EE-kluh-veer)
  • Famciclovir (fam-sah-EE-kluh-veer)

These medicines shorten the length and severity of the illness. They work best when you take them as soon as possible after the rash appears. If you think you have shingles, contact your doctor as soon as possible to talk about treatment”.8

Shingrix Vaccine

What is the Shingrix vaccine?

In Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Get the Shingrix Vaccine If You Are 50 or Older the CDC explain:

Shingles“If You’re 50 or Older, Get Shingrix

  • Shingrix provides strong protection from shingles and long-term nerve pain
  • Get Shingrix even if you already had shingles, because you can get the disease more than once
  • Your risk of shingles and complications increases as you age
  • You need 2 doses of Shingrix. Get the second dose 2 to 6 months after you get the first dose”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have shingles?

If you think you have shingles, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Shingles: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations:

  • The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead to permanent eye damage.
  • You’re 60 or older. Age increases your risk of complications.
  • You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system. This may be due to cancer, medications or chronic illness.
  • The rash is widespread and painful”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Shingles?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Shingles?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Burning, Lingering Pain After Shingles? 5 Options May Help You
  2. Chickenpox
  3. Chickenpox
  4. Chickenpox (Varicella)
  5. Chickenpox and Shingles Tests
  6. Everything You Need To Know About Shingrix, and How Shingrix Differs From Zostavax [+ Video]
  7. Mayo Clinic Minute: Learn More About Eye Shingles [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  8. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Are Eye Shingles?
  9. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Shingles — Not Just A Band of Blisters
  10. Shingles
  11. Shingles
  12. Shingles
  13. Shingles
  14. Shingles
  15. Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
  16. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
  17. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Shingles (Herpes Zoster) – Know Your Risk of Getting Shingles and Complications
  18. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Get the Shingrix Vaccine If You Are 50 or Older
  19. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Photos of Shingles
  20. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Signs and Symptoms
  21. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Transmission
  22. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Vaccination
  23. Shingles Affects the Nerves
  24. Shingles Treatment: Does Alcohol Use Affect Therapy?
  25. Shingles Vaccination Overview
  26. Shingles Vaccine: Can I Transmit the Vaccine Virus To Others?
  27. Shingles Vaccine: Should I Get It?
  28. Shingles: Check If You Have Shingles
  29. Shingles: Diagnosis & Treatment
  30. Shingles: Everything You Never Thought To Ask (And How To Prevent It)
  31. Shingles: What Triggers This Painful, Burning Rash?
  32. Vaccines and Preventable Diseases: Shingles Vaccination – What Everyone Should Know About the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)
  33. Vaccines and Preventable Diseases: What Everyone Should Know About Zostavax
  34. Zostavax (Herpes Zoster Vaccine) Questions and Answers

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Saunders, K. M. Shingles: Everything You Never Thought To Ask (And How to Prevent It): Who Gets Shingles? https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/women’s-health-and-menopause/shingles-everything-you-never-thought-to-ask-(and-how-to-prevent-it) Accessed: 21 November 2023
  2. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Shingles – Signs & Symptoms. Last Reviewed: 10 May 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/symptoms.html Accessed: 21 November 2023
  3. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Shingles – Cause and Transmission. Last Reviewed: 10 May 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html Accessed: 21 November 2023
  4. Shingles: Stay Away From Certain Groups of People. Page Last Reviewed: 01 July 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/#shingles-and-chickenpox Accessed: 21 November 2023
  5. Shingles: You Cannot Get Shingles From Someone With Chickenpox. Page Last Reviewed: 01 July 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/#shingles-and-chickenpox Accessed: 21 November 2023
  6. Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Last Reviewed: 03 February 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html Accessed: 21 November 2023
  7. Saunders, K. M. Shingles: Everything You Never Thought To Ask (And How to Prevent It): Who Gets Shingles? https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/women’s-health-and-menopause/shingles-everything-you-never-thought-to-ask-(and-how-to-prevent-it) Accessed: 21 November 2023
  8. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): About Singles – Prevention and Treatment. Last Reviewed: 10 May 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/treatment.html Accessed: 21 November 2023
  9. Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Get the Shingrix Vaccine If You Are 50 or Older. Last Reviewed: 09 December 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/multimedia/shringrix-50-older.html Accessed: 21 November 2023
  10. Shingles: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 20 August 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054 Accessed: 21 November 2023
Topic Last Updated: 21 November 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 21 November 2023

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