Shingles and Senior Citizens
Shingles is a disease that can affect anyone but seems to happen to senior citizens more than younger patients. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus can remain dormant in people who have had chicken pox and can either stay inactive forever or turn into shingles in adults. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (nih.gov), about 1 in 5 adults with the VZV virus will develop shingles in their lifetime.
An eruption of shingles will result in painful blisters that tend to form in one specific area, such as the midsection. Symptoms include: mild to severe itching; fluid filled blisters that cause mild to severe pain; flu-like symptoms like headache, fever, or chills; and burning or tingling skin. Shingles usually follows a pattern. The patient will first experience burning or tingling skin; a few days later, a red rash will appear on the face, neck, or body. Eventually the rash will turn into blisters that last a few days before drying up. The entire outbreak of shingles will last about 3 to 5 weeks. Caregivers should make sure that the patient sees their doctor as soon as they notice the rash. Treatment for shingles cannot "cure" the disease, but medications can help soothe the irritating pain and help the blisters clear up faster.
Risk factors for shingles include: advanced age (the chance of getting shingles becomes much higher after age 70); and a weakened immune system. Shingles are not contagious but a person can catch chickenpox (if they have never had it) from someone with shingles. In the same person, shingles can occur repeatedly with no advance warning.
Caregivers can help their patients deal with the pain and inconvenience of shingles in several ways. The patient should get enough rest, hydration, nutrition and should avoid any type of stress. Caregivers can keep the patient busy with reading, television, talking or other easy activities so they cannot focus on the pain and irritation of the shingles. It helps to remind patients that the condition is not permanent and will eventually subside.
An eruption of shingles will result in painful blisters that tend to form in one specific area, such as the midsection. Symptoms include: mild to severe itching; fluid filled blisters that cause mild to severe pain; flu-like symptoms like headache, fever, or chills; and burning or tingling skin. Shingles usually follows a pattern. The patient will first experience burning or tingling skin; a few days later, a red rash will appear on the face, neck, or body. Eventually the rash will turn into blisters that last a few days before drying up. The entire outbreak of shingles will last about 3 to 5 weeks. Caregivers should make sure that the patient sees their doctor as soon as they notice the rash. Treatment for shingles cannot "cure" the disease, but medications can help soothe the irritating pain and help the blisters clear up faster.
Risk factors for shingles include: advanced age (the chance of getting shingles becomes much higher after age 70); and a weakened immune system. Shingles are not contagious but a person can catch chickenpox (if they have never had it) from someone with shingles. In the same person, shingles can occur repeatedly with no advance warning.
Caregivers can help their patients deal with the pain and inconvenience of shingles in several ways. The patient should get enough rest, hydration, nutrition and should avoid any type of stress. Caregivers can keep the patient busy with reading, television, talking or other easy activities so they cannot focus on the pain and irritation of the shingles. It helps to remind patients that the condition is not permanent and will eventually subside.
