Al-Amn Magazine

S MEDICAL By Dr. Zahra Khalifa Sh i ng l es can affect a l l age groups Vacci ne an effect i ve prevent i ve measure hingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that affects the skin and nerves, causing severe pain that can persist for extended periods after the skin heals. Shingles is caused by the varicella- zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox in childhood. After a child recovers from chickenpox, the virus does not disappear from the body but remains dormant in the nerve ganglia for many years. It may reactivate later, causing shingles, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. The incubation period for shingles differs from that of chickenpox, as the virus remains dormant for years after the initial chickenpox infection. When it reactivates, symptoms typically appear in stages. The first stage begins with tingling, pain, or itching in a specific area of skin on the sides for 2 to 5 days before the rash appears. The second stage then begins with the appearance of a rash and fluid-filled blisters, which usually last 7 to 10 days before drying and scabbing over. This is followed by the third stage, the complete healing phase, which typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms. In some cases, nerve pain may persist for weeks or months after the skin has healed. Shingles can affect all age groups, but it is more common in older adults over 50, those with diabetes or cancer, or those taking immunosuppressant drugs or corticosteroids for extended periods. The likelihood of viral reactivation also increases in individuals who have experienced