Dr. Khadija Jones-Shelton, a primary care physician at St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care on Eisenhower, explained on Apr. 16 that adults who had chickenpox as children are at risk of developing shingles, a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
Shingles can affect anyone who previously had chickenpox, especially those over age 50 or with weakened immune systems. The disease is significant because it causes severe nerve pain and can lead to complications if not treated promptly.
“Shingles is a painful rash that can develop in anyone who previously has been infected with varicella-zoster, also known as human herpesvirus 3. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox,” Dr. Jones-Shelton said. She noted that after an initial infection with chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in certain nerves for life and may reactivate later as shingles.
The classic appearance of a shingles rash often follows body dermatomes in a straight line along nerves and can appear anywhere on the body, including the face. “With most other rashes you might have a spot here and there,” Dr. Jones-Shelton said. “A shingles rash has a classic appearance… You would be able to tell it’s a shingles rash versus another type of rash based on that pattern.” If the rash appears near the eyes or nose tip, immediate medical attention is required due to risks of vision loss: “If the rash is over the eyes or the tip of the nose, that’s a medical emergency and you need to get to an emergency department,” she said.
About one in three Americans will develop shingles during their lifetime according to national health data cited by Dr. Jones-Shelton; nearly one million cases occur annually nationwide.
Vaccination offers protection against shingles for adults aged 50 and older or those with weakened immune systems: “The recombinant zoster vaccine is recommended to prevent shingles in adults 50 and older or those with a weakened immune system.” The latest vaccine available is Shingrix, given in two doses: “The most recent vaccine made available is called Shingrix… more than 90 percent effective.” While vaccination does not guarantee immunity from shingles entirely, symptoms tend to be less severe among vaccinated individuals: “While proven effective in preventing shingles, the vaccine is not an absolute guarantee… symptoms tend to be less severe if you’ve been vaccinated.” She also advised patients check insurance coverage before getting vaccinated.
According to the official website, St. Joseph’s/Candler supports community health through outreach programs addressing local needs and operates facilities such as St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital across more than 30 counties in southeast Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry. The hospital system provides specialized services including cancer care, heart health services for women, neurosciences care options, advanced surgical procedures,and compassionate healthcare guided by faith. Recognition for nursing excellence has been achieved through Magnet status.according to its website.
