Shingles and Traveling

Question: Can I travel with Shingles?

This is best answered with a little information about this disease. Warning: some of the following pictures are a little graphic, but are a great illustration of the impact Shingles can make.

Shingles or Herpes Zoster is a disease caused by the varicella virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you’ve contracted the varicella virus, it never completely leaves the body, lying dormant along the nerve pathways. Sometimes however, it is reactivated when disease, stress or aging weakens the immune system.

Shingles can first appear as flu-like symptoms with general malaise, sensitivity to light, tingling, itching or pain on one side of the body or face and progresses to a painful, blistering rash along the path of one or more nerves. As seen below:

It is characterized by excruciating pain. The rash is usually limited to one side of the body and may blister. The blisters will fill with fluid and eventually crust over. It generally takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal.

Your risk for shingles increases as you age. Almost half a million cases in the United States occur each year in people 60 years of age and older. Over 90% of adults in the US have had chickenpox and are at risk for shingles. Up to half of all people living to age 85 will develop shingles during their lifetime. It is estimated that up to 800,000 people in the United States suffer from shingles each year, and the incidence is expected to increase as the population ages.

MOST people choose not to travel while afflicted with Shingles and that is a wise decision.

Fluid from shingles blisters is contagious and direct exposure can cause chicken pox in the unvaccinated or those without a history of having had chickenpox, so it's best to stay home and avoid the spread to the unprotected. The Shingles vaccine, Zostavax ^TM , is available at all Passport Health locations and is for people aged 60 years and up ( Dependent upon health and family history, it could be prescribed for those younger. Be sure to see your doctor for the proper recommendations). See the video below for a personal story of how Shingles can change your life.



Shingles Vaccine - video powered by Metacafe