Is it contagious?

Shingles is infectious in nature and can spread from an infected person and cause chickenpox, but only to someone who has never had chickenpox or the vaccine. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the blisters caused by shingles. It can be prevented with the shingles vaccine. If you’re looking a for a vaccination, it is available to you in Northolt and West London at Touchwood Pharmacy.

People who have shingles may experience long-term nerve pain that can last for months, even years. Anyone who has previously recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles. Even children can get shingles. However, the risk and potency of disease rises as a person gets older. About half of all shingles infection cases occur among men and women 60 years of age or older.

Treatment

Zostavax is a new shingles vaccine, available in Northolt, that can help prevent shingles in adults 50 years of age or older.

The shingles vaccine in West London is given as a single shot. It cannot be used to treat the virus or the nerve pain which may follow.

The infection can also be treated used antibiotics which help decrease pain and infection.