Two picture the the left above are the varcilla-virus, the one to the far left is a micrograph which is a photograph taken through a microscope
About Shingles
Varicella Zoster Virus
- Shingles is virus associated with a severe pain, rash, and blisters.
- Caused by the varcilla-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. Since the same virus causes both, after you recover from having the chicken pox, shingles lays inactive in your system.
- In turn, if you have had chicken pox, you are already at risk for shingles.
- The varicella-zoster virus is in the herpes family, so shingles can also be called herpes zoster. However, it isn't the same same herpes as the STD.
- The rash and pain is caused by the virus traveling down one nerve in the nervous system and to the skin.
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History of Shingles
Shingles has been around for a long time, even dating back to ancient Greek society, but was never really recognized as the shingles until later. It was commonly confused with smallpox, until the 1700's when William Herberden recongnized the difference. Richard Bright and Felix von Barensprung discovered the connection between the virus and the human nervous system in the 1830's by doing autopsies of dead patients that had shingles. Until the mid-1900's shingles was never recognized as very serious or painful and nothing big was done to treat it, until after it was discovered that some systoms could lead to serious issues with the person health. In 2005 a drug was found and approved by the FDA that can fight shingles, and is given as a vaccine to people in their 60's.
- Caused by the varcilla-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. Since the same virus causes both, after you recover from having the chicken pox, shingles lays inactive in your system.
- In turn, if you have had chicken pox, you are already at risk for shingles.
- The varicella-zoster virus is in the herpes family, so shingles can also be called herpes zoster. However, it isn't the same same herpes as the STD.
- The rash and pain is caused by the virus traveling down one nerve in the nervous system and to the skin.
*******************************************************************************************************
History of Shingles
Shingles has been around for a long time, even dating back to ancient Greek society, but was never really recognized as the shingles until later. It was commonly confused with smallpox, until the 1700's when William Herberden recongnized the difference. Richard Bright and Felix von Barensprung discovered the connection between the virus and the human nervous system in the 1830's by doing autopsies of dead patients that had shingles. Until the mid-1900's shingles was never recognized as very serious or painful and nothing big was done to treat it, until after it was discovered that some systoms could lead to serious issues with the person health. In 2005 a drug was found and approved by the FDA that can fight shingles, and is given as a vaccine to people in their 60's.
Prevelance
- The shingles virus is present all around the world, it is estimated that 2 out of every ten people will get shingles in their lifetime
- Most common in people over 60
- Roughly 1,000,000 cases of chicken pox in the US
- Most common in people over 60
- Roughly 1,000,000 cases of chicken pox in the US