Is a shingles attack more painful than giving birth? Doctors appeal: 10 risk groups do not want to "suffer from skin pain" and get vaccinated quickly!
1 in 3 people in Taiwan has had skin snake? Virus invading the face may cause blindness and deafness
Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. About 99.5% of adults over the age of 50 have been infected with the varicella-zoster virus. According to data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 3 people in Taiwan is likely to suffer from herpes zoster, commonly known as “herpes zoster” at least once in their lifetime. The high prevalence rate is a health concern that cannot be ignored by Taiwanese people.
What is worrying is that people with low immunity, such as those with diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, cancer, etc., are 1.24 to 9 times more likely to develop herpes zoster than the general population. Moreover, post-herpetic neuralgia is more likely to occur, and the risk of infection is always present and inevitable. Not defensive. The 2023 World Immunization Week has recently ushered in. The Immunology Society of Taiwan calls on people with low immunity to pay attention to the herpes zoster crisis to prevent occasional outbreaks of the virus in their bodies.
Dr. Chen Yixing, Vice Chairman of the Immunology Society of Taiwan and Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, pointed out that currently the most effective way to stay away from herpes zoster is vaccine prevention, and people with low immunity should prevent it as early as possible. The “Herpes Zoster Neuralgia Advisory Committee” composed of many experts in Taiwan recently released the latest “Taiwan Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Vaccine Prevention and Treatment Manual”, which recommends that people over 50 years old and high-risk groups with low immunity should get vaccinated as early as possible Prevent shingles to avoid crises such as blindness, deafness, and post-herpetic neuralgia.
Post-herpetic neuralgia feels like burning or electric shock! Doctor describes the pain as “worse than childbirth”
Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. For those who have been diagnosed with chickenpox or received the chickenpox vaccine in the past, the virus will always lie dormant in the dorsal root ganglia in the body, like a time bomb in the human body. Once immunity is low, the virus can easily activate and proliferate, causing herpes zoster.
Because herpes zoster will grow along the ganglia and form long scars, it was often called “skin snake” by the public; and “low immunity” is the main cause of herpes zoster. Dr. Chen Yixing pointed out that immune-compromised groups, such as cancer patients and chronically ill patients, are more likely to get herpes zoster than the general population and need to pay more attention.
Dr. Chen Yixing explained that herpes zoster is caused by the varicella zoster virus. About 99.5% of adults over 50 years old have been infected with this virus, which shows its danger. Herpes zoster also has different risks depending on the affected part of the body. Studies have pointed out that the proportion of herpes zoster occurring in the eyes is about 10%-25%. If not treated in time, it can lead to severe visual impairment.
In addition, the acute pain and post-herpetic neuralgia caused by herpes are like burning or electric shock, and the pain is worse than the pain of childbirth. Among them, 30% of patients will be complicated by “post-herpetic neuralgia”, and the pain is more likely to continue. It lasts for more than 1 year and seriously affects the patient’s life.
The risk of low immunity increases by up to 9 times! Doctor: Recurrence of skin snakes will cause serious complications
The immediate pain of shingles infection and the long-term effects of subsequent post-herpetic neuralgia are often disconcerting to patients. “In the past, people thought that people over 50 years old were the only high-risk group for contracting herpes zoster. However, in fact, the main cause of herpes zoster is the body’s “weakened immune system.”
Dr. Chen Yixing said that groups including bone marrow and organ transplant recipients, AIDS, family history of herpes zoster, malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, middle-aged and elderly people, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and asthma are affected by the disease. As a result, the immune system is weakened, and some are even treated with immune preparation drugs. The patient’s immune system is “widely opened” and more susceptible to herpes zoster. The prevalence rate may be 1.24 to 9 times higher.
In addition to having a higher chance of contracting herpes zoster, immunocompromised groups should also be aware of the risk of “constant recurrence” of the disease. Dr. Chen Yixing shared that he had treated a 26-year-old patient with lupus erythematosus in the past. Herpes relapsed within half a year of diagnosis, and herpes zoster recurred four times in the following five years. As a result, the patient had to regularly ask a pain doctor to prescribe a large number of control medications. Pain medications suppress post-herpetic neuralgia and cause side effects such as dizziness and nausea. In the long run, patients are physically and mentally overwhelmed.
In addition, people with low immunity are more likely to develop myelitis and vascular complications after contracting herpes zoster, which shows the subsequent damage to health caused by herpes zoster. Therefore, in addition to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending that patients with chronic diseases should Get vaccinated. The American College of Rheumatology guidelines also strongly recommend that patients over the age of 18 who are taking immunosuppressant treatment should prevent herpes zoster as early as possible to improve their own immunity and stop suffering from skin pain.
People with low immunity should get vaccinated as early as possible! Helps stay away from herpes zoster and avoid “skin pain”
The herpes zoster virus usually hides in the human body, and people tend to underestimate or ignore the possible major risks. Although antiviral drugs can be used after suffering from herpes zoster, they are mainly used to accelerate the healing of skin lesions or relieve pain. They cannot cure herpes zoster and its derived complications. Dr. Chen Yixing pointed out that currently the most effective way to stay away from herpes zoster is “vaccine prevention”, which is especially important for people with low immunity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) designates the last week of April every year as World Immunization Week to encourage people to pay attention to vaccine prevention to protect people of all ages from diseases. In addition, the Herpes Zoster Neuralgia Advisory Committee recently released the latest “Taiwan Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Vaccine Prevention and Treatment Manual”, which compiles relevant treatment, care and prevention information for various high-risk groups for public reference. .
Dr. Chen Yixing calls on people with low immunity to pay attention to their own immune health, get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent herpes zoster, and install an “immunity gatekeeper” for their health to replenish their immunity and avoid skin snakes.
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