September 18-24 is National Shingles Week

By Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP | September 9, 2016 | Comments Off on September 18-24 is National Shingles Week
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Senior Care in Somerset NJ

Did you know that 1 in every 3 adults over the age of 60 will get shingles at some point in their life?  Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, a Senior-Care-in-Somerset-NJcommon childhood illness.  If your loved one had chickenpox as a child, the virus stays dormant in their body for most of their life and can become reactivated as they age in the form of shingles.  Shingles can be very painful and it can also cause serious complications.  During the week of September 18-24, National Shingles Week, seniors and their caregivers are encouraged to learn more about this potentially serious medical condition and what they can do to prevent it.  Read on for some more information about shingles and how you can help your loved one to prevent this painful illness.

 

What are the symptoms of shingles?

Shingles causes a painful rash on the skin, usually just on one side of the face or body.  The rash will develop blisters which then scab over in 7-10 days and then fully clear up after about 2-4 weeks.  The rash can be very painful and uncomfortable and caregivers are advised to help their senior loved one to keep the rash covered and to avoid touching or scratching it.  Usually, seniors will only get an outbreak of shingles once, but it some cases it can reoccur.

 

What are the complications of shingles?

Shingles can have very serious complications.  One of the most common complications of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN.  This causes pain in the area of the rash that remains even after the rash is gone.  The pain from PHN can last for weeks, months, or even years.  In addition, shingles on the face can lead to hearing or vision problems that remain after the outbreak is gone.  In some cases, shingles causes scarring on the skin or serious bacterial infections if the rash is exposed to harmful bacteria.

 

Can shingles be prevented?

If your loved one was infected with chickenpox as a child, they have the virus for life.  However, there is a shingles vaccine available that is recommended for adults over the age of 60.  It is a one-time does and it can reduce your loved one’s risk of getting shingles and the serious complications that sometimes come with it.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in Somerset, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

 

Source: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/shingles/aboutshingles/01.html

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP
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