CEBU
CITY, January 22 (PIA) --- Persons who are 50 years old and above are
at high risk in developing shingles otherwise known as herpes zoster which is
characterized by fluid-filled blisters often accompanied by debilitating pain,
depending on severity.
Dr. Mitzi Montebon-Chua, associate professor of the Cebu Institute
of Medicine bared that according to studies, 95 percent of adults over 50 are
at risk to developing shingles and around 50 percent of those that reach 85
years of age are likely to acquire the disease.
“Shingles may not be fatal but the pain can be severe and the
period of recovery can take up to one month due to the low immune system of the
elderly,” said Chua during a recent roundtable discussion with media that aims
to hike public awareness about the disease.
The virus that caused shingles is varicella zoster virus (VCZ),
the same virus that causes chickenpox, said Chua adding that transmission is
airborne.
Those who have had chickenpox already has the virus in their
system and this virus just “sleeps” in the nerve roots that can be reactivated
later in life as shingles, said Chua.
In shingles very early stage, abnormal sensations or itching will
be experienced even before the rashes or blisters occur while symptoms include
rash eruption that is typically painful, then blisters and eventually crusting
within seven to 10 days.
Unlike chickenpox where blisters are spread throughout, shingles
is usually concentrated in one area only, said Chua who has been trained on
infectious diseases at the University of the Philippines- Philippine General
Hospital.
In the Philippines, the incidence of shingles is one out of 10
cases is the leading cause of morbidity since 1989 while there are 35,306 cases
reported in the country based on the 2001 data of the Philippine Health Statistics
(PHS). The same PHS data also revealed that 45 Filipinos out of 100,000
population developed shingles.
Women are more prone to men and commonly affected were the 51 to
60 age group, said Chua citing the same PGH study.
Cases in the country further showed most were found in the
thoracic area equivalent to 52.04 percent mimicking angina and second affected
site is the lumbar usually mistaken as suffering from kidney stone at 23.53
percent.
Complications from shingles include hearing loss, skin infection,
muscle weakness, pneumonia and visual impairment if this occurs around the
eyes.
“Shingles can be a great burden for the elderly because their
tolerance to pain is relatively lower. So this is not just a health issue. It
also diminishes their quality of life,” explained Chua.
Chua urged high-risk individuals to be vaccinated against shingles
as this helps reduce the risk of the virus reactivation which in turn can lower
the risk of developing shingles.
The only vaccine available in the country was launched just last
October by MSD, a tradename of Merck & Company in the US and costs around
P7,500. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)