Herpes zoster: The belated greeting of chickenpox: 8 questions about shingles
For decades, viruses slumber in the body, then wake up again: Shingles are not only unsettling, but often also painful. What you need to know - from symptoms to behavioral tips.
Gürtelrose, also Herpes zoster, is a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which initially causes chickenpox. The virus can remain dormant in nerve cells for decades before reactivating, often due to a weakened immune system, stress, or age. Symptoms include a painful rash, typically on one side of the body, and nerve pain, which can last for weeks or even years in some cases, known as postherpetische Neuralgie.
In Germany, around 350,000 to 400,000 people contract Gürtelrose each year, with two-thirds of them being over 50 years old. A vaccine is available for people aged 60 and above, or 18 and above with certain pre-existing conditions, which can reduce the risk of contracting Gürtelrose and its complications.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
