MUNICH (ODS) – – Day of Action Against Pain takes place on June 4, 2024 – Up to 30 percent of shingles sufferers suffer from chronic nerve pain.[i] – Nervous disease affects people especially in the second half of life
The German Pain Association’s “Action Day Against Pain” is taking place again this year – on June 4th. Biopharmaceutical company GSK is taking this opportunity to highlight the potential risk of long-term pain from shingles. More than 95 percent of all adults in Germany carry the pathogen after contracting chickenpox — usually in childhood.[1] So there is a risk of aphid formation. Many people don’t know that the two different diseases are caused by the same virus – and many underestimate their individual disease risk. One in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime.1 Basically, people in the second half of life are at higher risk of developing shingles because the immune system naturally weakens with age. If you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis or cancer, your chance of developing shingles increases by an additional 30 percent.
A special type of pain caused by inflamed nerves
Due to the attack on the nerve cells, among others, responsible for transmitting sensations such as: B. Pain, temperature, touch or pressure from the body to the brain are responsible, acute shingles is usually severe and often difficult to treat pain. This is because the inflammatory reactions induced by the virus affect not only the visible areas of the skin, but also the nerve fibers where the virus has spread locally.
For sufferers, it can cause not only excruciating, long-lasting pain as a result of localized skin inflammation, but also discomfort or abnormal sensations and unpredictable pain as a result of direct nerve damage. Some sufferers describe a stabbing pain. Her shingles also caused complications for Rosemary: “In retrospect, I wish I knew more about shingles — about the actual disease.” Three years ago she was suddenly attacked by a nervous breakdown, the painful effects of which she continues to suffer to this day.
In this case – if the pain persists for more than three months despite healing of the skin symptoms – it is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia (PZN). The pain reappears after a more or less long symptom-free interval and then persists. This nerve pain can last for months, years, or in the worst case – a lifetime, which can put a lot of stress on sufferers’ daily lives. Common: Affects up to 30 percent of all shingles sufferers.
How to reduce your personal risk
If you want to stay one step ahead of shingles, talk to your family doctor about prevention options for shingles.
According to the recommendations of the Standardized Immunization Commission (STIKO), everyone aged 60 and over has the right to vaccination against shingles.[2] For those with an underlying disease such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis or a weakened immune system, e.g. B. With immunosuppressive therapy, the shingles vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 50.
More information about nerve disease: www.impfen.de/guertelrose.
About GSK
GSK is a global biopharmaceutical company that brings science, technology and talent together to advance disease. For more information: www.de.gsk.com.
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[1] Woodsler et al. 2001; Vaccine 20: 121 – 124 .
[2] Epibul 18/2020.
[i] Harbas R et al. MMWR Recomm Rep 2008; 57: 1-40
NP-DE-HZU-PRSR-240004; 04/2024
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Original content: GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, Posted by NewsActual
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