Have you got the shingles?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same kind responsible for chickenpox. The pain from shingles is often described as aching, burning, stabbing, or shock-like, particularly on one side of the body. It mainly affects adults 50 years old and above and immunocompromised individuals.

In a survey by Global biopharma company GSK, 21 percent of the Filipinos within the 50 to 59 age group has the highest shingles incidence. The survey results also indicate that a notably large percentage of participants are not aware of their susceptibility to shingles, with 86 percent underestimating their risk and 49 percent are unlikely to develop the disease.

Aside from the shingles rush, a person can also experience post-herpetic neuralgia, a long-lasting nerve pain that can last weeks or months and occasionally persist for several years.

In reality, by the age of 50, almost 90 percent of adults already have the virus that causes shingles present in their bodies when they contracted chicken pox when they were younger. This virus reactivates with advancing age. Yet, one in 10 adults surveyed do not know the most common symptoms of shingles. Over 28 percent even believe shingles is "essentially harmless."

"These results clearly show the need to strengthen our educational efforts regarding the risks and impacts of shingles. As a global advocate with and for aging populations, we are proud to contribute to this worldwide effort to increase awareness of shingles and help adults understand the risks and complications associated with this painful disease," Dr. Giovell Barangan, GSK Philippines country medical director, said.

The survey also investigated the sources that adults rely on for health-related data. The findings indicate that a significant portion of individuals aged 50 and above frequently opt for unconventional methods to obtain health information, with 90 percent of those surveyed stating they would utilize online search engines such as Google.

Clarity on shingles is needed, as evident in the global search data from Google. A 600-percent rise in searches for "stages of the shingles rash pictures" has been recorded, highlighting an increasing interest in shingles as well as underscoring an amplified prevalence of online sources providing health-related information.

"Shingles can be a debilitating disease that can significantly impact the quality of day-to-day life for those with it. As we commemorate the Shingles Awareness Week, we're asking people to talk to a healthcare professional about this painful condition that could affect us in our lifetime," Barangan said.