Shingles can be painful, and it often affects people in later years when they might already be struggling with a health condition. Shingles comes from the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, then the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life and can re-emerge at any time as shingles.
You might feel pain or a tingling sensation in an area of your skin, as well as a feeling of being unwell generally. A few days later, a rash will appear. Shingles rashes are common on your tummy or chest, but you can also have a shingles rash on your face. eye, or genitals.
The rash is blotchy and develops into blisters that are very itchy. It will only be on one side of your body. If you have blotches on both sides, then visit your doctor as you are unlikely to have shingles.
The blisters are full of liquid, and they eventually burst, and then the blisters will dry out and become scabs. Â
During your shingles episode, you might also experience:
No. But you can give someone chickenpox if they haven’t had the illness or a vaccination. It’s better, therefore, to avoid pregnant women and babies and anyone with a weakened immune system. Stay off work or keep children away from school until the blisters have all dried up. It can take up to 4 weeks for the rash to clear up.
For most people, having shingles doesn’t cause lasting problems. But for some people, complications may occur, which include:
If you already have shingles, you can get antiviral tablets to help your recovery, but these must be taken within 3 days of the rash appearing on the skin. Â Over-the-counter painkillers will help to provide pain relief, or there are medicines and steroid tablets to help nerve pain, which your doctor may prescribe.
Another service the pharmacy provides is the shingles vaccine. It doesn’t prevent shingles, but it reduces your risk of catching the virus, and if you do, the symptoms are more likely to be shorter and milder.
You can catch shingles more than once during your lifetime, so it is worth getting the vaccination to reduce the risk of a painful dose or complications.
For some people, yes. It is available on the NHS for:
You might have a sore arm where the injection went in, and you could get a headache or feel under the weather for one or two days, but most people get on with daily life immediately after the vaccination.
You can book an appointment online. Give us a call on 01276 21002 or come and see us at the shop and speak to a member of staff.
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The flu is much more than ‘just a bad cold’ and can claim the lives of thousands of people each year, particularly the old and the vulnerable. Yet, by receiving an annual flu vaccine from our pharmacy, you greatly reduce your risk of getting ill.
You can catch Typhoid from contaminated food or water. If you’re plannning to visit a country where typhoid is a risk then protect yourself by having a typhoid vaccination at our Travel Clinic.
