Number of shingles patients on rise, especially among 30s and 40s
- 5 years ago
Time now for our "Life & Info" segment... where we focus on information useful for your everyday life.
Shingles is common in older adults who have a weakened immune system.
The number of cases has been rising each year in South Korea, …with an uptick in the number of patients in their 30s and 40s in the last five years.
Park Se-young reports.
Skin rashes, blisters and constant intense pain.
These are the most common symptoms of shingles, …caused by the same virus responsible for chicken pox.
The virus remains hidden in the body of a person who has had chicken pox …and becomes reactivated when the immune system is weakened.
The number of shingles patients in Korea has been increasing by an average of three percentage points per year.
Most of the patients, …63-point-four percent, were aged 50 and above.
But the rate of increase was greatest among people in their 30s and 40s, …at three-point-six to four percent each year.
Shingles patients should see a doctor and get proper treatment because nerve damage, and the accompanying pain, tends to get worse over time.
"Unlike chicken pox, this virus causes damage to nerves. Damaged nerves are difficult to recover, and often progress to neuralgia as an aftereffect."
Depending on the affected area, the virus can result in meningitis, blindness and facial paralysis.
This is why experts say people with symptoms of a painful, itchy rash or shooting pain should get diagnosed and treated within 72 hours.
Shingles requires anti-viral medication and nerve blocks to manage the pain.
Those over 50 years of age or with weakened immune systems are recommended to get vaccines.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.
Shingles is common in older adults who have a weakened immune system.
The number of cases has been rising each year in South Korea, …with an uptick in the number of patients in their 30s and 40s in the last five years.
Park Se-young reports.
Skin rashes, blisters and constant intense pain.
These are the most common symptoms of shingles, …caused by the same virus responsible for chicken pox.
The virus remains hidden in the body of a person who has had chicken pox …and becomes reactivated when the immune system is weakened.
The number of shingles patients in Korea has been increasing by an average of three percentage points per year.
Most of the patients, …63-point-four percent, were aged 50 and above.
But the rate of increase was greatest among people in their 30s and 40s, …at three-point-six to four percent each year.
Shingles patients should see a doctor and get proper treatment because nerve damage, and the accompanying pain, tends to get worse over time.
"Unlike chicken pox, this virus causes damage to nerves. Damaged nerves are difficult to recover, and often progress to neuralgia as an aftereffect."
Depending on the affected area, the virus can result in meningitis, blindness and facial paralysis.
This is why experts say people with symptoms of a painful, itchy rash or shooting pain should get diagnosed and treated within 72 hours.
Shingles requires anti-viral medication and nerve blocks to manage the pain.
Those over 50 years of age or with weakened immune systems are recommended to get vaccines.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.