Highly contagious! 1/3 of adults will have an attack in their lifetime, and the pain can reach level 10!

Today, we are going to talk about a virus that cannot be ignored - the varicella-zoster virus . This virus is not simple. It can cause you to get two completely different diseases: chickenpox and shingles. Once infected, about 90% of people will develop the disease, and it will remain dormant for life and may "come back" at any time. But don't worry, we have ways to prevent and deal with it.

Varicella-zoster virus: twins in one disease

The varicella-zoster virus is a "cunning" virus. The initial infection manifests as chickenpox . After recovery, the virus will lurk in the body. When the immunity decreases, it may "revive" and cause shingles .

Chickenpox: Common in children, adults should also be careful

• Symptoms : Fever, itching, and rash that starts like a cold, then an itchy red rash that gradually turns into papules, blisters, and finally breaks and scabs.

• Transmission route : droplet and contact transmission, easily spread in group settings.

Shingles: Common in adults, extremely painful

• Symptoms: Groups of blisters along nerve distribution, associated with severe pain.

• Characteristics : The course of the disease is 2-3 weeks, and the pain may last for months or even years.

Treatment within 72 hours is essential

Although shingles is a self-limiting disease, most people will recover on their own in about two to three weeks. However, the golden period for the treatment of shingles is 72 hours!

Prompt antiviral treatment within 24 to 72 hours after the rash appears can not only effectively control pain and accelerate the healing of the rash, but also reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Especially when the lesions occur on the head and face, immediate treatment is needed to avoid serious complications.

How to prevent it?

1. Vaccination: The most effective means of prevention

• Varicella vaccine : The first dose is given at 1 to 2 years old, and the second dose is given at 4 to 6 years old.

• Shingles vaccine : Data show that within three years of vaccination, the protective efficacy of the shingles vaccine for adults aged 50 to 59 is as high as 96.6% . Therefore, people over 50 years old and those who have had shingles twice or more should actively get vaccinated.

2. Avoid contact

Chickenpox is highly contagious, so it is said that it can be spread by just meeting someone. Therefore, children with chickenpox need to be isolated until all the herpes scabs have dried up. Although herpes zoster is not highly contagious, close contact with patients should still be avoided, especially avoiding contact with herpes fluid .

When someone in the family is infected with the varicella-zoster virus, in addition to taking isolation measures, you also need to pay attention to daily disinfection and indoor ventilation to reduce the chance of virus transmission.

3. Enhance immunity

• Regular work and rest schedule : It is recommended to go to bed before 23:00 every night and ensure 7-9 hours of sleep to improve the activity of immune cells.

• Balanced diet : Consume more than 12 different types of food every day and no less than 25 types of food per week to ensure adequate nutrition; it is recommended to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and potatoes, and supplement with probiotics.

• Appropriate exercise : It is recommended to perform moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 5 times a week, 30 to 45 minutes each time, such as jogging, cycling, yoga, etc., to enhance physical fitness.