Let's talk infectious diseases, the reason for vaccines: ᶜʰⁱᶜᵏᵉⁿᵖᵒˣ/ˢʰⁱⁿᵍˡᵉˢ ⱽᵃᶜᶜⁱⁿᵉ

Until 1767 people didn't know that there were two different kinds of pox - small and chicken. But in 1767 English physician William Heberden was the first to give a detailed description of the differences between the two.

In 1953, Thomas Weller, MD isolated the varicella virus from cases of chickenpox and shingles. But it wasn't until 1974 that a live strain of the virus was successfully attenuated for vaccine production. And then it seems like everything stalled...at least in the United States. A vaccine wasn't licensed for use in the US until 1995.

The vaccine for shingles was first approved for use in the US in 2006 in adults 60 and older. In 2017 the recommendation was revised to include healthy adults 50 and older.

{You can find all the sources I used by clicking here.}

Let's talk infectious diseases, the reason for vaccines: ˢʰⁱⁿᵍˡᵉˢ ⁽ᴴᵉʳᵖᵉˢ ᶻᵒˢᵗᵉʳ⁾

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, a member of the herpes family of viruses. After a person has chickenpox, the virus can live dormant in the nervous system in nerve fibers for life. Sometimes the virus remains dormant forever, but in other cases, the virus re-emerges or reactivates. The causes of reactivation include: disease, stress, or aging. About 98% of US adults have had chickenpox and are at risk for shingles.

It inflames sensory nerves and can result in severe pain. It causes localized pain, numbness, and itching, followed by the appearance of clustered blisters in a strip pattern on one side of the body. Sometimes the pain can persist for weeks, months, or years after the rash heals (known as post-herpetic neuralgia). Other symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, upset stomach, muscle weakness, skin infection, scarring, fatigue, and decrease or loss of vision or hearing.

Because the pain from shingles is localized, it can be mistaken for other conditions depending on where it's focused. For example, a stabbing or persistent pain on one side of the lower back may be attributed to sciatica or a kidney problem when, in fact, it's the early sign of a shingles outbreak of the leg. Similarly, shingles pain around the lips could suggest a cold sore coming on, while pain focused on the eye or ear might seem like the start of a migraine.

Aside from the discomfort that can come along with shingles, it is particularly concerning because of its potential complications.

The most common complication of shingles is a potentially debilitating condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) that develops when nerve fibers become damaged. It's characterized by persistent pain in the area where a shingles rash has been. Treating PHN can be complicated, but it's important, as the condition can lead to further complications such as depression, fatigue, trouble concentrating, sleep issues, and appetite loss. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, however, and it often takes several medications to relieve the pain and other symptoms.

The only prevention for shingles is a vaccine.

{You can find all the sources I used by clicking here.}