| Shingles: A Replay of an Old Virus
Just when you think that childhood diseases were nothing more than
a fuzzy memory — bang, you develop shingles. The same virus (varicella-zoster)
that caused chickenpox when you were young gets reactivated in later
life, causing a return of the rash, blisters, and discomfort that
are common with both diseases. About 20 per cent of older Americans
develop shingles during their lifetime.
To help seniors understand and cope with this disease, the National
Institute on Aging has produced a new Age Page, “Shingles,”
which discusses the symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and complications,
including post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), an extremely painful aftermath
of shingles. The brochure also offers tips for staying comfortable
and lists helpful resources.
Readers can view the Shingles Age Page online or order a free copy
at http://www.niapublications.org/engagepages/shingles.asp.
Information on a wide variety of healthy aging topics is available
from NIA’s publications website at http://www.niapublications.org.
You can also call the NIA Information Center at 1-800-222-2225 to
request free print copies of materials.
NIA is one of 27 Institutes and Centers that constitute the National
Institutes of Health. The NIA leads Federal efforts to support and
conduct basic, clinical, epidemiological, and social research on
aging and the special needs of older people. Press releases, fact
sheets, and other materials about aging and aging research can be
viewed at the NIA’s general information website, http://www.nia.nih.gov.
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