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Varicella-Zoster News
Related terms: Chickenpox
Health Tip: One of Three Adults Gets Shingles
Posted 9 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Adults 60 and older should be vaccinated for shingles, a very painful rash that's triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. If you had chickenpox when you were younger, the vacicella-zoster virus may be lying inactive inside you and could trigger a nasty case of shingles. Symptoms of shingles include a blistery rash, itching, fatigue and fever. The best way to prevent shingles is to be vaccinated, the CDC says. People who have had shingles compare the pain to childbirth or having a kidney stone. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. If you have the contagious disease, let others know about it, especially if someone you come in contact with has a compromised immune system. Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varizig, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin
Is Shingles Tied to Heart, Stroke Risk?
Posted 4 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 4, 2017 – Shingles may be tied to an increased risk for heart disease, a new study suggests. About one-third of Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime. The painful skin rash can occur in anyone who's had chickenpox, and the risk increases with age. The new study looked at 2003-2013 medical records for more than 23,000 people in South Korea who had shingles. The researchers also reviewed data on a similar number of people without shingles. They found the shingles group had a 59 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 35 percent higher risk of stroke than the others. Stroke risk was highest among those under 40. The risks of both stroke and heart attack were highest the first year after the onset of shingles and decreased with time, according to the study. The results appear in a research letter published July 3 in the Journal of the American College of ... Read more
Related support groups: Heart Disease, Ischemic Stroke, Herpes Zoster, Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Varicella-Zoster, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Thromboembolic Stroke Prophylaxis, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Ischemic Heart Disease, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Varivax
Zika-Bearing Mosquitoes More Widespread in U.S. Than Expected
Posted 20 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 – The latest buzz from federal health officials is that mosquitoes that can spread Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses are in more counties in the southern United States than previously thought. After a Zika outbreak in Florida last summer, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded mosquito-collection measures across the South. The new study revealed a 21 percent increase in the number of counties with Zika-carrying mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). There was also a 10 percent increase in counties with dengue-spreading mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus). The results don't mean these mosquitoes are abundant or madly transmitting the viruses. But the "findings highlight the need for continued and improved mosquito surveillance," wrote the team led by Micah Hahn. Hahn is with the CDC's division of vector-borne diseases in Fort Collins, ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Insect Bites, Zika Virus Infection, Dengue Fever, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Shingles Vaccine Cuts Chronic Pain, Hospitalizations
Posted 17 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 17, 2017 – Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of serious complications from shingles, a new study finds. Shingles occurs when the same virus that causes chickenpox is reactivated later in life. Nearly one-third of people in the United States will develop shingles. The risk increases with age, researchers said. The new study showed the vaccine was 74 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations for shingles during the three years after vaccination. That number dropped to 55 percent effective after four or more years. The immunization was 57 percent effective for preventing lasting pain in the three years after vaccination. The rate dropped to 45 percent after four years, the researchers said. The findings were published recently in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. "The fact that we found relatively high effectiveness against serious outcomes, such as ... Read more
Related support groups: Herpes Zoster, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Zoster Vaccine Live, Herpes Zoster Peripheral Neuropathy, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Got an Itch? Use These Tips for Relief -- and Don't Scratch
Posted 31 Jan 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 – Itchy skin is a common problem, but there are several ways to find relief, a dermatologist says. "There are many reasons for itchy skin," Dr. Hassan Galadari said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release. "It could be the result of a skin condition, such as eczema, shingles, hives or psoriasis, or it could be a sign of a contagious disease, like scabies or ringworm." To relieve itchy skin, Galadari offers these tips: Apply a cold, wet cloth or ice pack to the itchy area for five to 10 minutes or until the itch subsides. Or take an oatmeal bath. Use skin moisturizers that contain no additives, fragrances or perfumes. Apply topical anesthetics that contain pramoxine. Apply cooling agents such as menthol or calamine, or refrigerate your moisturizer to help achieve this cooling effect. Avoid scratching. It will irritate your skin and could lead to ... Read more
Related support groups: Skin Rash, Herpes Zoster, Psoriasis, Eczema, Scabies, Plaque Psoriasis, Calamine, Varicella-Zoster, Menthol, Pramoxine, Anusol, Calmoseptine, Biofreeze, Terocin, Analpram-HC, Caladryl, Hydrocortisone/Pramoxine, Sarna, Caladryl Clear, Dendracin
Experimental Shingles Vaccine Looks Quite Effective: Study
Posted 15 Sep 2016 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2016 – An experimental vaccine against shingles may offer lasting protection for most older adults who receive it, a new clinical trial found. Shingles is a painful rash that's triggered by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. About one-third of Americans develop the disease at some point, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There already is a vaccine against shingles, but its effectiveness is limited. The new study found that the experimental vaccine protected about 90 percent of adults age 70 and up. And the effects were still apparent four years later. By comparison, the existing vaccine, Zostavax, cuts the risk of shingles by about half. And immunity wanes within five years, according to the CDC. The study results were published in the Sept. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers called ... Read more
Related support groups: Herpes Zoster, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Zoster Vaccine Live, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Herpes Zoster - Prophylaxis, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Chickenpox Cases Down 85 Percent Since 2-Dose Vaccine Started: CDC
Posted 1 Sep 2016 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 – Chickenpox – which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus – has continued declining in the United States since 2006, when doctors began routinely recommending a second dose of chickenpox (varicella) vaccine, U.S. health officials said Thursday. States reporting vaccination data noted an 85 percent drop in the highly contagious disease between 2005-2006 and 2013-2014, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fall-off was greatest among kids aged 5 to 14, health officials said. This is also the age group most likely to have received the second dose of varicella vaccine. Symptoms of chickenpox include an itchy, blistery rash, tiredness and fever. It tends to be more serious in babies, adults and people with a weakened immune system, the CDC noted. Before vaccination, chickenpox was commonplace, with 4 million ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, ProQuad, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin, Varizig, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Experimental Drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis Shows Promise
Posted 31 Mar 2016 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 – An experimental drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis showed promise in a new six-month trial. Baricitinib substantially reduced symptoms and improved daily physical functioning among people who failed other treatments for the autoimmune disease, researchers found. "If you have active disease and you've failed existing treatment options, you should have hope," said lead researcher Dr. Mark Genovese. He is a professor of immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. "There is another therapy, which will hopefully become available, that has demonstrated it can work in that situation." The report was published March 31 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Co., the manufacturer of baricitinib. Lilly is currently seeking approval of the drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ... Read more
Related support groups: Rheumatoid Arthritis, High Cholesterol, Varicella-Zoster, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Two-Dose Chickenpox Shot Gets the Job Done, Study Shows
Posted 14 Mar 2016 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 – Among school children, two doses of the chickenpox vaccine is better than one, a new study finds. Giving the first dose at age 1 and the second dose at ages 4 to 6 is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing the once common childhood disease, researchers have found. "A second dose of varicella [chickenpox] vaccine provides school-aged children with better protection against the chickenpox virus, compared to one dose alone or no vaccination," said lead researcher Dana Perella, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Two doses of the vaccine protected against the moderate to severe chickenpox infections that can lead to complications and hospitalizations, she said. The report was published online March 14 and will appear in the April print issue of the journal Pediatrics. Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes a painful, itchy rash with small, ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, ProQuad, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Health Tip: Chickenpox Can Be Dangerous
Posted 5 Feb 2016 by Drugs.com
-- Chickenpox is notoriously contagious, and for some people it can be very dangerous. Women who are pregnant, young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of complications. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions these potential complications of chickenpox: Pneumonia, blood poisoning or dehydration. Brain inflammation or infection. Bacterial infection affecting the skin or soft tissues, especially among children. Infection of the joints or bones. Toxic shock syndrome. Unusual bleeding. Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, ProQuad, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Chickenpox, Shingles Vaccines Linked to Rare Eye Inflammation
Posted 25 Jan 2016 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 – The vaccine for chickenpox and shingles has been linked to inflammation of the eye's cornea, but the number of such cases is small, a new study says. "Keratitis, or inflammation of the clear layer on the front of the eye, is a vision issue that can cause serious complications or even permanent damage to your vision if left untreated," Dr. Frederick Fraunfelder, chair of the ophthalmology department and director of the University of Missouri Eye Institute, said in a university news release. Researchers found 20 cases of keratitis in children and adults that occurred within a month of receiving a chickenpox or shingles vaccine. Symptoms of the disorder developed within 24 days of vaccination among adults. In children, symptoms began within 14 days of vaccination, the researchers said. The researchers said there is a probable relationship between the vaccine and ... Read more
Related support groups: Eye Conditions, Herpes Zoster, Zostavax, Varicella-Zoster, Keratitis, Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Abrasion, Eye Redness/Itching, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Herpes Zoster Iridocyclitis, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Zoster Vaccine Live, Visual Defect/Disturbance, ProQuad, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Varivax
Health Tip: Coping With Chickenpox
Posted 24 Aug 2015 by Drugs.com
-- What can you do if you get chickenpox – besides scratch? The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests: Keep the room cool, as heat can make itchy skin worse. Put a cool, damp compress on the itchiest spots. Keep fingernails trimmed short so you don't break the skin if you do scratch. Soak in a lukewarm oatmeal bath. Apply calamine lotion. Read more
Related support groups: Skin Rash, Benadryl, Hydroxyzine, Zyrtec, Promethazine, Claritin, Loratadine, Allegra, Diphenhydramine, Phenergan, Vistaril, Cetirizine, Cyproheptadine, Atarax, Fexofenadine, Periactin, Xyzal, Chlorpheniramine, Levocetirizine, Benadryl Allergy
Vaccine Sharply Curbs Chickenpox Cases in U.S.
Posted 13 Aug 2015 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2015 – Chickenpox cases in the United States have dropped sharply since a vaccine against the disease became available in 1995, a new study shows. Also, hospitalizations and outpatient visits for chickenpox have continued to fall since 2006, when a second dose of the vaccine was recommended to boost protection against the disease, the researchers found. Before 1995, about 4 million people in the United States got chickenpox each year, nearly 11,000 were hospitalized, and up to 150 died of the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this study, CDC researchers analyzed national health insurance claims data. They found there were 93 percent fewer hospitalizations for chickenpox in 2012, and 84 percent fewer outpatient visits for the disease than in the period before the vaccine was introduced. After the second dose recommendation ... Read more
Related support groups: Varicella-Zoster, Vaccination and Prophlaxis, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Shingles Vaccine Appears to Cut Odds of Long-Term Pain
Posted 4 Jun 2015 by Drugs.com
TBD, 2015 – Even when shingles vaccination does not prevent the disease, it reduces the risk of long-term pain that can occur as a complication of the condition, according to a new study. Although the U.S. Advisory Council on Immunization Practices recommends shingles vaccination for people 60 and older, vaccination rates remain low, the researchers say. "Hopefully, this study will encourage more people to get vaccinated in order to reduce the long-term pain and potential disability associated with shingles," said lead author Hung Fu Tseng, a researcher with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Tseng's team analyzed the medical records of 2,400 people in Southern California over age 60 who developed shingles. Some had been vaccinated against the disease. Among vaccinated patients, just over 4 percent of women and 6 percent of men developed long-term pain (post-herpetic neuralgia, or ... Read more
Related support groups: Persisting Pain, Shingles, Postherpetic Neuralgia, Varicella-Zoster, Varicella Virus Vaccine, Measles Virus Vaccine/Mumps Virus Vaccine/Rubella Virus Vaccine/Varicella Virus Vaccine, ProQuad, Varivax, Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis
Study Ties Shingles Virus to Dangerous Blood Vessel Disease in Elderly
Posted 18 Feb 2015 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 – New research links the virus behind chickenpox and shingles to a blood vessel condition that afflicts the elderly and can sometimes be deadly. The study doesn't prove that the so-called varicella zoster virus causes the condition, known as giant cell arteritis. But study author Dr. Don Gilden, a professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, said the findings suggest that the standard treatment of steroids, which reduce inflammation, aren't enough on their own. "You need to treat the virus and the inflammation that goes along with it," he said. "This is totally new." That means patients with the condition should take antiviral medications to fight off the chickenpox virus, he added. About 30 cases of giant cell arteritis appear in every 100,000 people each year, Gilden said, or about 300 cases in a city of one million. By ... Read more
Related support groups: Giant Cell Arteritis, Varicella-Zoster
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Varicella-Zoster - Prophylaxis, Herpes Zoster
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Valtrex, acyclovir, valacyclovir, Zovirax, foscarnet, immune globulin intramuscular, Biogam, Varizig, GamaSTAN S / D, BayGam, Foscavir, varicella zoster immune globulin
