The Nurse Practitioner’s Place

I have been asked several times over the last few weeks about the “Shingles” vaccine. In the hospital setting as a floor nurse, I remember a particularly bad case of shingles that was causing my patient an excruciating amount of pain. He actually begged me to kill him because he couldn’t stand the suffering any longer.

Shingles is caused by the Herpes Zoster virus, which also causes chicken pox. It is usually more common in patients who are 60 and older but can happen sooner based on a lowered immune system or increased stress.

Symptoms sometimes include fever, malaise, and a burning, stinging sensation followed by a usually linear rash that is vesicular. The viral fluid in the vesicles are contagious to those who have never had the chickenpox. Once the vesicles dry out and scab over, they are no longer contagious.

One of the secondary problems with shingles is the potential for continued nerve pain. This can last for several years post outbreak. In order to help prevent it, patients can be vaccinated against Herpes Zoster.

Patients need to check with their insurance companies to see if it’s considered a covered vaccine and ask their health care provider about whether it’s a good idea.