Do you know these rumors about shingles?

Herpes zoster is a painful disease that can kill people. There is a folk rumor that if a herpes zoster grows all over, the person will die. Is this true? Li Zihai, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Nanjing Second Hospital, will help you debunk the rumors about herpes zoster.

Rumor 1: If you have a full ring of shingles, you will die.

Clinical and medical studies have shown that the growth of a full circle of hair will not cause the patient's death and can be cured through reasonable control and treatment, but some patients will suffer from the sequelae of neuropathic pain.

Myth 2: Only the ones that grow on the waist are herpes zoster

Shingles can appear anywhere on the body, such as the face, waist, abdomen, neck, buttocks, etc. It does not only grow to the waist. The reason for this may be that the incidence rate is higher in the waist.

Myth 3: Shingles is not contagious

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The blisters of shingles contain this virus. People who have not been exposed to the virus may be infected if they come into contact with a shingles patient.

Myth 4: You only get shingles once in your life

Clinical cases in recent years have found that some patients with herpes zoster will have another attack, and the two attacks are not in the same location, and the recurrence time is also different. Therefore, herpes zoster is not something that you will only get once in your life, and having it does not mean you will be 100% immune for life.

Myth 5: Once the blisters on the skin have healed, they are cured

Not exactly. Early treatment of herpes zoster is very important. Once the virus damages the nerves, it takes a long time to repair them. In severe cases, it may develop into postherpetic neuralgia. Even if the erythema and blisters disappear, neuralgia will still accompany the patient.

Myth 6: Only older people get shingles

The incidence rate among older people is higher than that among young people, and the clinical symptoms are more serious than those among young people. In fact, anyone, young or old, male or female may suffer from shingles.

Myth 7: Shingles cannot be prevented

Shingles can be prevented. The virus is activated when the body's immunity is reduced. Therefore, enhancing resistance, exercising, reducing illness, reducing fatigue and staying up late, maintaining a balanced diet, and paying attention to rest can avoid shingles. If you are an elderly person with reduced resistance, you can also prevent it by injecting a shingles vaccine. There are currently two shingles vaccines approved for marketing in China, namely the recombinant shingles vaccine and the attenuated shingles live vaccine. The recombinant shingles vaccine is more effective and lasting, and the attenuated shingles live vaccine is suitable for a wider range of people.