Give me a crash course in ... shingles

Why is shingles suddenly in the news? English pop star Ed Sheeran posted on Instagram on Tuesday that he was recovering from shingles. He shared his new shaved-head look and said, ‘I wouldn’t recommend it but I’m on the mend now.’ Shingles is a viral illness caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. If someone has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in their body and can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened by stress, illness, or fatigue. ‘It’s very common and nobody should be worried about it as there are very effective treatments,’ says Wicklow-based GP Dr Phillip Sheeran Purcell. You can’t catch shingles from someone, but if someone has never had chickenpox and comes into contact with an active oozing shingles blister, they could get chickenpox. Sheeran Purcell clarifies that people can get shingles at any age, though older individuals are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications like post-herpetic neuralgia, a chronic painful condition. Medical experts in Ireland have called for free shingles vaccines for those aged 65 and older, citing new evidence that the vaccine may offer protection against dementia and heart disease. If someone has a rash, how can they tell if it’s shingles? The first signs include a tingling or painful feeling in a specific area, combined with a headache or general unwellness. Red blotches typically appear on one side of the chest or tummy, sometimes on the face, eyes, or genitals. A rash on both sides of the body is unlikely to be shingles. If the rash is near the eyes, the HSE recommends contacting a GP or attending an emergency department immediately. Otherwise, treatment depends on the severity. Mild cases can be managed with pharmacist-prescribed medication. Anti-viral medication should be taken within two to three days of the rash appearing. Painkillers help reduce skin, muscle, or nerve pain. It can take up to four weeks for the shingles rash to heal. During this time, the affected area should be kept clean and dry to reduce infection risk. Loose-fitting clothes should be worn to avoid skin irritation. Avoid contact with pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, babies under one month old (except the mother’s own baby), and anyone with a weakened immune system.