1. SHINGLES
HERPES ZOSTER
ADA KONG, R.PH.
SAFEWAY
PHARMACY
July 2007

2. WHAT IS SHINGLES?
 Disease that causes severe pain & blisters
on face and body.
 Affects up to 1 million Americans every
year.
 Comes from chicken pox virus, called
varicella zoster (or herpes zoster).
 Chicken pox virus remains dormant in body
until it is reactivated later on in life &
develops into shingles.

3. HOW DO YOU GET SHINGLES?
 Scientists don’t know how shingles gets
reactivated from chicken pox virus.
 Illness, trauma, stress are some factors
that may contribute to cause.
 People with weak immune systems (e.g. HIV
patients, radiation treatment, surgery,
chemotherapy) are more likely to get
shingles.
 More common in adults over 50 years old.

4. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
BURNING/SHOOTING
PAIN RED RASH
BLISTERS FLU-LIKE
SYMPTOMS
HEADACHE

5. COMPLICATIONS
 Vision complications or blindness.
 Hearing Loss
 Loss of facial movement.
 Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) &
neurological problems.
 Bacterial infections.
 Post-herpetic neuralgia = prolonged pain
even after blisters have healed.

6. TREATMENT OF SHINGLES
 Medications can help with pain & prevent
complications with faster recovery.
 Oral antiviral drugs (acyclovir, Valtrex,
Famvir).
 Pain medications & corticosteroids (for
inflammation/swelling)
 Tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants,
lidocaine patches.

7. ZOSTAVAX
(SHINGLES VACCINE)
 Reduces risk of shingles outbreaks by about
50%, also reduces post-herpetic neuralgia.
 For adults 60 years and older.
 Live vaccine – must be healthy, not
immunocompromised (no cancer,
chemotherapy, steroid treatment etc.).
 Side effects: redness, swelling, pain, rash at
injection site. Headache, flu-like symptoms.
 Covered by most Medicare D plans.

8. WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SHINGLES
 Call your doctor immediately – the sooner
you get medications, the sooner you’ll get
better!
 Keep the affected area clean.
 Apply cool compresses.
 Soak in lukewarm water or calamine lotion.
 Take OTC pain reliever (acetaminophen,
ibuprofen) – Check with your pharmacist!
 Get plenty of rest.

9. References
 CDC website
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/dis-faqs.htm
(Accessed July 2007)
 Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/DS00098 (Accessed
July 2007)
 National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shingles.html (Accessed
July 2007)