Shingles on the rise
DR DAVE'S ADVICE
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, blistering rash. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.
You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox in the past. The Douglas Shire is now experiencing a wave of cases which has local doctors conducting their own Shingles education programs. Hopefully this article will spur those vulnerable folk to act before contracting it. If you’ve ever had shingles, you’ll know how incredibly painful it can be.
I got it about six months ago in my scalp and it felt like my whole head was on fire. Just trying to comb my hair came with excruciating pain. Thankfully for me I had a doctor’s appointment the very next day with Dr David Rathmell at the Port Village Medical Centre. Because I’d come to him within 72 hours of contracting Shingles, he was able to knock it on the head (pardon the pun) with an anti-viral medication.
National Shingles Vaccination Program
I for one, wasn’t aware there is a fully funded Federal Government pre-emptive jab for Shingles if you’re a certain age. The program is called The National Shingles Vaccination Program. A drug called Zostavax® is free for all adults 70 years and over.
Symptoms of Shingles
- Pain
- A burning, tingling or itching sensation
- A stabbing sensation
- Sensitivity to touch
- Numbness in the affected area of the body
- Sensitivity to light
- Fever and/or headache
- Fatigue
Two to 3 days after these symptoms appear, a painful rash will appear on the sensitive area of skin, usually on one side of the body in the area of a skin nerve called a dermatome. At first this rash consists of painful red bumps that quickly develop into fluid-filled blisters, which will eventually have a crusty surface. The rash can last for 10 to 15 days.
Doctor Dave’s diagnosis
According to Dr David Rathmell, Shingles is common in our community “It lays dormant in our spine and can come back any time in our life when we’re stressed, or our immune system is down,” he said. The mild mannered medico told Newsport that people need to present themselves as quickly as possible to their doctor to receive those anti-virals at the first sign of trouble, of course if it’s after hours I recommend they present themselves to an emergency department because ant-viral therapy does make a big difference” said Dr Dave.
He also reminded people of that free Government vaccine over the age of 70 and the importance of paying for themselves if they are under that age. ‘I believe people in the Shire should consider having the vaccine because it does reduce the duration and severity of Shingles,” said Dr Dave.
I wish I’d known about it.
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