How do you prevent getting shingles?

Answer 1

There is no known way to prevent shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox may get shingles later in life. However, you can avoid getting the virus that causes both chickenpox and later shingles by receiving the varicella vaccine currently recommended for preventing chickenpox. It is possible that the varicella vaccine may boost immunity to shingles in those who have had chickenpox as children or adults who have had shingles before. Studies of older adults and the prevention of shingles with this vaccine continue.

If you have never had chickenpox, avoid contact with people who have shingles or chickenpox. Fluid from shingles blisters is contagious, and exposure to it can cause chickenpox (but not shingles) in people who have never had chickenpox.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I had Shingles for the first time a few weeks ago. I am normally in good health and haven't had any other health challenges before, so it came as a surprise.

Shingles is probably the most painful thing I have ever encountered. I went to the doctor, and he gave me some prescription drugs to take that was suposed to help, but didn't.

My wife found the Fast Shingles Cure ebook online and bought it for me, I am very lucky to have such a wonderful woman in my life. We followed the book, did what it said, and it delivered what it promised. Finally my Shingles rash is over... I feel truly blessed and thankful.

The #1 Shingles Treatment Method Available

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Hello:
This is in response to the question you posted on yahoo about the prevention of getting shingles.
Shingles is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus (varicella). Depending on your age, the majority of people have already had chicken pox.
The virus responsible for chicken pox lies dormant in the body for years. Once you have it, it will never go away. But most people don't get an outbreak of shingles.
The unfortunate ones who do suffer greatly with the outbreak because the blisters are excruiatingly painful for most people.
Some things that can cause the reactivation of the varicella virus are: a lowered immune system like in HIV, organ transplants, being on steroids for long periods of time, cancer and even going through surgery can increase the risk of an outbreak of shingles. The elderly are more susceptible because their immune systems are not as strong as younger people.
Really, there is no way of preventing shingles. It can come out at any time and usually is in a line, since it is in a nerve root, when an outbreak occurs it follows that particular nerve, most of the time on the lateral part of the chest under the arm.
There are medications you can take like valtrex, famvir, acyclovir which can reduce the number of days of the outbreak and topical anesthetic patches like lidoderm that can help with the pain.
Narcotic pain medications rarely help with the nerve pain.
A sequela to shingles is something called post-herpetic neuralgia which is a chronic pain syndrome caused by an outbreak of shingles long after the blisters go away. There are also medications for this, ie. some of the older anti-depressants, seizure medications are known to help with chronic nerve pain. I usually use neurontin in my patients for this problem. Valtrex for the initial outbreak of shingles in my experience seems to work better than any of the other anti-virals.
I hope I was able to answer your question and alleviate some of your concerns.
Regards,
Warren Shaffer, M.D.

Answer 6

Children should get vaccinated against chicken pox. If you had chicken pox then you are always at risk of getting shingles. Since you tend to get sick when you are run down, stressed, not eating right, not sleeping enough, then I would suggest making an effort to live a healthy life everyday whicht could keep the virus from erupting in the body again as shingles.

Answer 7

Best way to prevent is to keep your immune system high (especially if you have had childhood chicken pox and to stay away from those who have it)
In general, approximately 10%-20% of the U.S. population will eventually develop one or more cases of shingles. However, herpes zoster is more common among immunocompromised persons.


Immunocompetence declines with age, disease, and with some medical treatments, such as systemic corticosteroid therapy. Close to 50% of those who live beyond the age of 80 can expect to develop shingles. Of those patients with HIV infection, AIDS, lymphoma, malignancy, and other immune deficiencies and those who are recipients of bone marrow and kidney transplants, 50% can be expected to develop zoster.

Those most at risk for shingles are:

Anyone who has already had chickenpox

Answer 8

You should discuss this with a doctor. Shingles are not "contracted." The shingles as you seem to know is the same as chicken pox. The chicken pox virus resided in your system forever. Even after you have no more symptoms. It resides in the nerve endings near the spine. It is unknown what causes it to reactivate to cause shingles. There may be a connection to lowered immunity.

Answer 9

I have had shingles and found that severe stress can bring out this terribly painful situation. While I can't prevent having stress in my life (who can?), it's been my experience to ward off shingles by taking B6 and B12 vitamins daily. I was given this advice by a registered nurse.

Answer 10

The risk of spreading shingles is low if the rash is covered. People should keep their rashes covered, avoid touching and scratching, and wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading it.


-Realize that anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, even children.
-Know if you are at a higher risk of getting shingles. If you suffer from the following conditions, you are at a higher risk:
Cancer
Lymphoma
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Leukemia
Also be aware that if you receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids or drugs given after an organ transplant, you are also at a higher risk of getting shingles.
-Get vaccinated. Shingles vaccine was recently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to reduce the risk of shingles in people 60 years old or older.
-Get vaccinated. Shingles vaccine was recently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to reduce the risk of shingles in people 60 years old or older.
-Know that the virus can be spread from a person with shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox if they come into direct contact with the rash.
-Keep in mind that the virus is not spread through coughing, sneezing, or casual contact.
-Understand that a person with shingles can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase. Once the rash has progressed to scabs, the person is no longer contagious.
-Know that the risk of spreading shingles is low if the rash is covered.
-People with shingles should keep the rash covered. They should not touch or scratch the blisters, and wash should their hands often.

Several medicines, acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir), are available to treat shingles. You should start medication as soon as possible after the rash appears. That will help shorten how long the illness lasts and how severe the illness is. Pain medicine may also help with pain caused by shingles. Call your health professional as soon as possible to discuss treatment options

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