Herpes zoster: Später Gruß der Windpocken: 8 Fragen zur Gürtelrose
Jahrzehntelang schlummern Viren im Körper, dann wachen sie wieder auf: Eine Gürtelrose ist nicht nur unheimlich, sondern oft auch schmerzhaft. Was man wissen muss - von Symptomen bis Verhaltenstipps.
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the same virus that leads to chickenpox. After recovering from chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in nerve cells. When the immune system weakens due to stress, illness, medication, or age, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.
The hallmark of shingles is a painful rash that often appears in a stripe along one side of the body. This rash consists of red, itchy blisters that can also affect the eyes, ears, and internal organs in rare cases. Along with the rash, people may experience nerve pain, fever, fatigue, and general aches.
Treatment with antiviral medications like aciclovir can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of severe complications, particularly for those over 50. About 20% of shingles cases develop post-herpetic neuralgia, chronic nerve pain that can last for years.
Older adults are most at risk, with up to 400,000 people contracting shingles in Germany annually. Chronic conditions, stress, or weakened immune systems further increase susceptibility. The vaccine is recommended for those over 60 and for those with pre-existing conditions, and it significantly reduces the risk of developing shingles and its severe forms.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
