Shingles: More Than Just a Rash
Shingles Singapore – Shingles is a condition that is often misunderstood and deceptively minimised as a simple skin irritation. However, in reality it is a severe condition, bringing with it intense nerve pain that can persist for weeks, months, or even years. It is a condition that has the potential to disrupting daily life.
Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. It can be prevented by vaccines (such as Shingrix) that help protect against the painful rash and long-lasting nerve pain (post-herpetic neuralgia) caused by shingles.
1 in 3 people will experience shingles in their lifetime. Potential long-term complications include Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), a severe nerve pain that can linger long after the visible symptoms fade. Beyond the visible blisters, shingles attacks the nervous system, potentially leading to chronic pain, vision loss if it affects the eye, and even hearing problems.
30,000 New Cases Annually In Singapore: Why Shingles is a Growing Concern
According to infectious diseases experts, Singapore is estimated to have about 30,000 new shingles cases a year.
Who Is At Risk For Shingles?
- Anyone who had chickenpox
- Older people, especially in people over 50
- People with compromised immunity e.g. those undergoing chemotherapy, living with HIV/AIDS, or are taking immunosuppressive medications
- People with chronic conditions e.g. diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease
- People with a family history of shingles
Learn More About Shingles
What Is Shingles? Causes, Symptoms, Complications
Cost Of Shingles Treatment
Shingles Myths And Facts
Shingrix Shingles Vaccination
Shingrix is a recombinant zoster vaccine that helps your body create a strong defense against the varicella-zoster virus. Recombinant vaccines uses protein or DNA recombinants that are inserted into the host cell to trigger an immune response. As no live virus is used, this makes it safer for people with weakened immune systems.
Shingrix is recommended for:
- Adults aged 50 years and older.
- Adults aged 19 years and older who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed due to disease or therapy.
What To Expect With Shingrix
2-Dose Vaccine
Shingrix is a 2-dose vaccine series (0.5 mL each) administered as an injection into the muscle in the upper arm. It is important to complete the 2-dose series to help prevent shingles.
Safety & Side Effects
The most common side effects of Shingrix are: Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, and upset stomach.
Dive Deeper Into Shingrix Protection
For Healthcare Professionals: Click for more comprehensive information about Shingrix and shingles vaccination,
Comment: The row below to be moved to article for healthcare professionals article
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Shingles vaccination (Shingrix) is available at various clinics and medical centres in Singapore, including AsiaMedic, conveniently located at Shaw House, along Orchard Road.
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Our Shingles Content
FAQs - Test Your Knowledge About Shingles
Shingles is a painful rash with blisters, caused by the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox (and over 99% of adults over 50 have), the virus lies dormant in your nervous system and can reactivate at any time. The risk significantly increases with age (especially after 50) and in anyone with a weakened immune system.
You cannot catch shingles from someone with the condition. However, if you’ve never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, you could potentially catch chickenpox from direct contact with the fluid from a shingles rash. As for getting it more than once, while most people only experience shingles once, it is possible to have multiple episodes.
Shingrix is a 2-dose vaccine given by injection into your upper arm. It works by boosting your immune system’s defense against the dormant chickenpox virus, significantly reducing your risk of developing shingles and its complications like long-term nerve pain (post-herpetic neuralgia). It’s crucial to complete both doses for full protection. Common side effects, such as pain or redness at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, or headache, are usually mild to moderate and typically last 2 to 3 days. These are normal signs that your immune system is building protection.
Additional Resources
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles) | Health Hub
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles) | National Skin Centre
- Shingles: Symptoms and Treatment | Healthxchange
- Shingles | Cleveland Clinic
- What is shingles and how is it prevented? | National Centre For Infectious Diseases
- Subsidies and MediSave Coverage For Shingles Vaccine | MOH
- Shingles Vaccination | Centres for Disease Control 7 Prevention
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