Shingles on the rise in United States
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Ask anyone who has ever had shingles, you don’t want it. Think of a painful rash that never stops itching, which can also lead to long-term nerve pain.
The older you are, the worse it is.
“Even on the face or on the thighs, the itching area becomes a rash. The rash will get worse, to the point where there’s little bumps, maybe even a little fluid coming from the bumps. They will scab and heal in about 10 days, sometimes 14 days,” said Hamilton County health officer Dr. Stephen Miller.
Shingles is on the rise, both nationally and locally.
Nearly a third of Americans will get shingles in their lifetime.
Think of it as the second act for chicken pox.
“Shingles is a resurgence of chickenpox that we see displayed as a rash, usually in individuals in our population 50 and older,” said Miller.” It used to be seen more in 65 and older, but now we are seeing it in a younger population in higher numbers.”
The good news is that there is a vaccine to protect against shingles.
“Fortunately, for those that are 50 years and older, we usually recommend when they go to the primary care provider … as a part of their physical or their screening process, they can go ahead and take this shot. If a person does do that, they get about a 90% protection from shingles,” Miller concluded.
Those seeking more information can visit the Center for Disease Control website.
