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Herpes Zoster is generally divided into three stages:
| Early stages | The infected area may be itchy or slightly painful, with a burning sensation; patients may also experience flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue and gastrointestinal discomfort. |
| 1 - 3 days after the onset of the disease | The site of the disease is painful, with a sharp, pin-prick sensation, usually in the back and lower back. The virus travels along the spinal nerves to the surface of the skin, where it forms a red rash that turns into blisters and spreads into a band. The blisters last for about 1 - 14 days, during which time they may become pus-filled or bloody, and dry up and crust over in 2 - 3 weeks, but the pain persists. |
| After healing | Some patients may experience more serious complications, such as nerve pain that lasts for months or years. The pain can be very severe even with light touch. Pigmentation of the affected area may also occur, resulting in a dull, bruised colour that takes months to disappear, or even lasts forever, and in severe cases, may leave scars. |
People who are prone to having shingles include:
- People over 50 years old
- People with chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease)
- People who have been taking steroids for a long time
- People with high psychological stress and insufficient time for rest and relaxation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1 , two doses of the Shingrix Shingles vaccine provide effective protection against both shingles and common nerve pain in adults, with slightly different rates of effectiveness among different age groups. Among adults aged 50 to 69 years, two doses of the vaccine were 97% effective in preventing shingles and 91% effective in preventing neuralgia. In adults aged 70 years and older, the rates were 91 per cent and 89 percent, respectively. Four years after vaccination, the vaccine is still highly effective (more than 85 percent effective) against herpes in people aged 70 years or older. Because the risk of developing shingles and nerve pain increases with age, seniors need adequate protection against the shingles virus.
Vaccination
New Generation Shingles Vaccine (SHINGRIX)
Service includes:
- Doctor consultation
- 2 doses of vaccine
- Injection fee
The fee for the Shingles vaccination service is HKD$5,600. Please contact us for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reference
- Shingles Vaccination - CDC from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html