NovelApproach
Posts: 150
Joined: 3/25/2007
Status: offline
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To clear up some of the questions/misconceptions floating around about shingles:
There's not a lot of conclusive data on why some people get shingles and others don't, but about 10% of everyone who has ever had chicken pox will have shingles at least once in their lifetimes. Things that seem to increase the risk are having the chicken pox as a baby or adult (as opposed to during childhood), having chicken pox more than once (really, really unlucky people can have it up to three times), and having a compromised immune system (old age, stress, AIDS or other illness, etc).
Once you've had it, chances are pretty good that you'll get it again. "Flare ups" occur along the same nerve branch as they did before - which is why it always come back in the same place. Its like the other kind of herpes, it just doesn't ever go away. But, similarly to genital herpes, taking good care of yourself reduces the likelihood of a flare-up. Unlike genital herpes, shingles isn't contagious. However, because shingles is caused by the exact same pathogen as chicken pox, a person with active shingles can spread chicken pox to anyone who hasn't had it before.
Fun fact for you -- a person infected with chicken pox is no longer contagious once they have the spots.
What else do I know... oh yeah. A shingles flare-up is often preceded by pain in the area where the rash will pop up. If you've had shingles before and you notice pain and surface numbness there, talk to your doctor because the sooner you get treated, the sooner it goes away and the less risk there is of post-herpatic neuralgia. Getting treatment before the rash even breaks out can speed up recovery time by a LOT. Unfortunately, that doesn't work if you already have PHN like I do, but if you're lucky enough to have escaped it the first time, you're better off trying for a repeat performance. There's reasons why neuralgia is sometimes called "suicide disease." 
And on that happy note, I will take my leave.
Be well all,
N
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RE: Shingles - 
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