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Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), an alpha-herpesvirus. Initial VZV infection usually occurs in childhood causing chickenpox . After this resolves, the virus is not eliminated from the body, but remains latent in the nerve cell bodies of the dorsal root or trigeminal ganglia , without causing symptoms.
Once the chickenpox has resolved, the virus can remain dormant (inactive) in human nerve cells (dorsal root ganglia or cranial nerves) [11] for years or decades, after which it may reactivate and travel along nerve bodies to nerve endings in the skin, producing blisters.
Shingles vaccination is the only way for adults to be protected against both shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, with two vaccines approved for use in people over age 50. [3] The zoster vaccine Shingrix provides around 90% protection from postherpetic neuralgia, and has been used in many countries since 2017.
The CDC says Shingrix is 97% effective in preventing shingles in adults ages 50 to 69 with healthy immune systems, and 91% effective for adults over 70. The most common side effects of the vaccine ...
Similar to the herpes simplex viruses, after primary infection with VZV (chickenpox), the virus lies dormant in neurons, including the cranial nerve ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, and autonomic ganglia. Many years after the person has recovered from initial chickenpox infection, VZV can reactivate to cause shingles. [4]
If you're a healthy adult age 50 or above, you should get vaccinated against shingles, medical experts say. The vaccine is Shingrix, which is highly effective at preventing shingles and its ...
“The shingles vaccine sharply reduces the risk of getting a shingles outbreak and improves the odds that the pain will resolve quickly if an outbreak does occur,” says Dr. Yancey.
A zoster vaccine is a vaccine that reduces the incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), a disease caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. [8] Shingles provokes a painful rash with blisters, and can be followed by chronic pain ( postherpetic neuralgia ), as well as other complications.