Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox (most commonly occurring in childhood), the virus lies dormant in certain nerve tissue. As people age, it is possible for the virus to reappear in the form of shingles, which is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. Shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters, which develop on one side of the body and can cause severe pain that may last for weeks, months or years after the virus reappears. People with decreased immune systems are also at higher risk of developing shingles. Risk groups include the elderly, chemotherapy patients, and people with diabetes and people with immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS.
During testing the incidence of shingles was reduced by about 50% in study participants 60 years of age and older. Researchers also found that in those subjects who developed shingles the duration of the pain that shingles produces was greatly reduced.
The most common side effects noted from this vaccine (given as a single injection) were redness, pain and tenderness, swelling at the site of injection, itching and headache.
Zostavax was developed as a live virus vaccine. It works by boosting immunity against the varicella-zoster virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles.
While chronic pain requiring long term pain medication is the most common complication of shingles there are other less common complications. The blisters that develop can become infected in some cases. Shingles can also rarely cause eye damage that can result in blindness if the blisters are near the eye.
Merck expects the vaccine to be available soon and physicians are now able to preorder the vaccine. The drug was approved for use in the European Union in early May 2006
Should you or a loved one develop shingles it is important to see a physician within the first three days after the outbreak. Medications such as steroids and antiviral medications can help ease the intensity and duration of its course. Analgesics and antidepressants are used to help ease the pain.
Sources:FDANews Release, May 26, 2006.
