What causes shingles in adults?
Shingles is a condition that can take many adults by surprise, often appearing suddenly with a painful rash being the most obvious symptom. Although it’s a well-known condition, many don’t realise what causes it.
Several aspects of a person’s health, lifestyle and environment can play a role in whether or not they experience shingles. The condition doesn’t just affect the elderly or those with existing health issues – in fact, most people have the potential to develop shingles later in life.
In this article, we delve into the factors that can make a shingles infection more likely, offering a clearer picture of why it may appear unexpectedly in some adults.
What is shingles caused by?
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of a virus called varicella-zoster. This is also the virus responsible for chickenpox.
After you’ve recovered from a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissues around the spinal cord and brain. For most people, the virus stays inactive for life, but in some adults, it reactivates and causes shingles.
What can cause a shingles reactivation?
A major factor in the development of shingles is a weakened immune system. Essentially, the shingles virus has to wait for an opportunity to develop when your defences are lowered, which is why some people with healthy immune systems won’t develop shingles.
But what can cause your immune system to weaken?
One common factor is how old you are. As we age, our immune system naturally becomes less effective at fighting off infections, giving shingles a chance to develop. This is why the infection is more common in people over 50, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get it younger.
Certain medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS, or medications that lower or inhibit the immune system, such as chemotherapy, can also increase your risk of shingles. You can check with a pharmacist if this affects you.
You can even get shingles after a common minor illness, like a cold or the flu. This is because your immune system has been focused elsewhere, allowing the shingles infection to develop unchecked.
Stress, both physical and emotional, can also trigger shingles. When we experience high levels of stress, our immune system can be temporarily weakened, making it easier for the varicella-zoster virus to reactivate.
Can you get shingles if you‘ve never had chickenpox?
Perhaps you’ve heard friends or relatives talking about getting shingles without previously having chickenpox – but is it possible? The short answer is no – shingles is always caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which stays in your body after you recover from chickenpox.
People often get confused about this when they don’t remember having had chickenpox. If you had a very mild case as a child, you might not have noticed the symptoms – or you might have mistaken it for something else.
So, if you’ve never had chickenpox, you won’t develop shingles. But if you were exposed to chickenpox and didn’t realise it – even as a mild case – the virus would stay in your body. Later on, that virus could reactivate in the form of shingles.
In other words, while you might not recall ever having chickenpox, the virus might still be in your system, and that’s what can lead to shingles down the road.
How is shingles transmitted?
Shingles is not directly transmitted from person to person in the same way that the common cold or flu is. However, the varicella-zoster virus can be spread through direct contact with the fluid-filled blisters of someone who has shingles or chickenpox.
If you become infected with this virus, you may get chickenpox. You can’t ‘catch’ shingles like this, but you could become infected with the virus if you’ve never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.
It’s important to note that both shingles and chickenpox blisters are contagious until they scab over, so if you have the infection, it’s advised to stay away from:
- People who have a weakened immune system
- Pregnant women who haven’t had chickenpox
- Newborns and other unvaccinated children.
Keep avoiding contact with these groups until the rash has fully healed. Practicing good hygiene, like covering the rash and washing your hands frequently, can help to minimise the risk of transmission to others, and shingles treatment can help to clear up the infection quicker.
Understanding the causes and transmission of shingles is key to preventing its spread and managing its symptoms effectively. If you think you might be at risk, you can talk to a member of our team for tailored advice and treatment through the Pharmacy First service.
