You may be a little unfamiliar with "Herpes Zoster", but you must have heard of "shingles"! Herpes zoster is also commonly known as shingles. Earlier polls showed that 1 in every 3 Hong Kong people have been infected with herpes zoster¹. However, it should be noted that having had a herpes zoster does not equate to lifelong immunity. You can be infected again and again in the future, so you need to take preventive measures in advance.

Causes of Herpes Zoster

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the main virus that causes Herpes Zoster. Most people have had chickenpox when they were young. After recovery, the chickenpox virus will lie dormant in the nerve endings. When immunity is low due to aging, excessive stress, the chickenpox virus will reactivate and replicate in large quantities, attacking nerves and inducing onset of Herpes Zoster.

Stages and symptoms of Herpes Zoster

1. Incubation period: The virus lurks in the nerves and usually has no symptoms.

2. Early stage: The patient's body feels like a cold, including headache, fatigue, chills, fever, etc. There may be itching and burning sensations on the body, but there are no symptoms.

3. Onset stage: The patient's skin will begin to experience itching, burning and tingling sensations, most of which will appear on the waist, abdomen, back, and chest; a small number of patients will experience it on the face, buttocks, legs, neck, eyes, and other parts. After about 2 to 3 days, the skin will develop a band-like red rash and blisters. Since the virus mainly attacks nerve lines, the patient's skin around the nerve lines will become very sensitive, and even the slightest contact of clothing with the skin will cause severe pain. This condition can last from 1 to 14 days.

4. Late stage: Symptoms gradually lessen, rashes and blisters slowly wither or burst, forming scabs.
   
   The severity of Herpes Zoster

Herpes Zoster tend to be common, and elderly people aged 50 or above with diabetes, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. are at high risk. Once the symptoms of Herpes Zoster appear and the patient does not receive antiviral drug treatment within 72 hours, the patient may suffer from the sequelae of "post- Herpes Zoster neuralgia", which can last for months or even years, seriously affecting life.

Also, having Herpes Zoster does not mean you will have lifelong immunity! The recurrence rate of Herpes Zoster is about 1 to 6%. If the immunity is low again, you can be infected with herpes zoster again.



Prevention methods of Herpes Zoster

To avoid suffering from the Herpes Zoster virus, getting a Herpes Zoster vaccine is an effective way to prevent Herpes Zoster. Shingrix Herpes Zoster vaccine is a new generation of inactivated vaccine that does not contain active viral ingredients. It can provide more than 90% protection rate for people aged 50 or above or high risk for those over 18 years old and provide sustained protection for up to 7 years. At the same time, Herpes Zoster vaccine can effectively reduce the chance of recurrence of Herpes Zoster, as well as the risk of complications such as post-Herpes Zoster neuralgia.

Re:Health provides Herpes Zoster vaccine vaccination service. People aged 50 or above are welcome to make an appointment for vaccination. For high-risk individuals whom over 18 years old, it must be evaluated by Doctor before being vaccinated. For details, please contact Re:Health.

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¹ "Survey on Cognition and Experience of Herpes Zoster of Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute"

Disclaimer: This article is prepared by an independent third party and is not sponsored. The content provided is solely for informational purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not represent any specific viewpoint. In the event of any discomfort or health issues, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly.