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Shingles key facts

Navin Khosla NowPatientGreen tick
Created on 16 Jul 2024
Updated on 16 Jul 2024

Shingles (herpes zoster), is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the body for many years. However, the virus can become reactivated later in life, leading to shingles. Here, we will take a closer look at the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of shingles.

Understanding shingles

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the Varicella-Zoster virus in the body. It mainly affects adults over the age of 50, but children can also be affected. The virus can remain inactive in the body in nerve tissues near the spinal cord and brain after a person has had chickenpox, but certain factors such as stress, or a weakened immune system can trigger the virus to reactivate, causing shingles. The exact reason for reactivation is not known, but it is more common in older adults and those with a weakened immune system.

Risk factors for shingles

Shingles is more common in adults over the age of 50. Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or AIDS are also at a higher risk of developing shingles. Those who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox and have never had chickenpox are also more likely to develop shingles.

Symptoms of shingles

Symptoms of shingles include:

  • Shooting pain, burning, tingling
  • Itching in a specific area of the skin
  • Painful rash on one side of your body or face
  • Fluid-filled blisters that eventually scab over and heal within a few weeks
  • Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and an upset stomach

Some individuals may experience symptoms without developing a skin rash.

Complications of shingles

Common complications include:

  • Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which causes severe pain in the area where the shingles rash occurred
  • Eye problems and vision loss
  • Hearing or balance issues
  • Bacterial skin infections
  • Neurological complications such as encephalitis (if the virus spreads to the brain or spinal cord)

Diagnosing shingles

Diagnosis is typically made by a physical examination and medical history review. In some cases of shingles a small sample of fluid from the blisters may be tested to confirm the Varicella-Zoster virus is present, to help differentiate shingles from any other skin conditions.

Treatment options for shingles

Shingles is not curable, but treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms and promote faster healing aswell as the prevention of complications.

  • Antiviral medications include aciclovir, famciclovir, and valaciclovir, to help reduce the duration and severity of the infection
  • Painkillers, such as ibuprofen may be used to manage nerve pain and help reduce any discomfort
  • Topical creams, lotions, cool compresses, and oatmeal baths may also provide relief from itching and discomfort
  • Keeping the rash clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections

Prevention: Vaccination

Two vaccines are available:

  • Shingrix: This is the preferred vaccine and is recommended for individuals aged 50 and older. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends to administer Shingrix as two doses. Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing postherpetic neuralgia and shingles
  • Zostavax is recommended for adults aged 60 and older

Who should get vaccinated

Immunization is recommended for:

  • Individuals aged 50 and older, whether they have had shingles in the past or not
  • Those who have previously received the Zostavax vaccine

The vaccine is generally safe, but pregnant women or breastfeeding women, those with severe allergies to vaccines, or those with active shingles, should speak to their healthcare provider before getting vaccinated. If the chickenpox vaccine is given before a child gets chickenpox, the risk of shingles can be reduced.

Side effects and risks of the shingles vaccine

Serious side effects from the shingles vaccine are extremely rare. However, potential allergic reactions include:

  • Swelling of the face or throat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hives
  • Fast heartbeat

Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these symptoms after receiving the vaccine.

Zostavax is a live vaccine and may not be suitable for patients with weak immune systems or certain medical conditions. Speak to your healthcare provider about your medical history before receiving the vaccine.

Additional measures for prevention

To reduce the risk of shingles:

  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • Manage stress
  • Practice good hygiene, such as regular handwashing
  • Avoid close contact with individuals who have active chickenpox or shingles

Frequently Asked Questions about shingles

Can you get chickenpox more than once?

Yes, but very rarely. People who have had chickenpox will be immune for the rest of their lives, however, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissue and may be reactivated later in life, due to certain risk factors.

What does the shingles rash look like?

Shingles look like a stripe of blisters, wrapped around one side of the body, either on the right or left side of your torso.

How can you prevent the spread of shingles?

A person with shingles may pass the virus to anyone who is not immune through direct contact with open sores of the shingles rash. Cover the rash if you have shingles, do not touch or scratch it, and wash your hands regularly to prevent its spread.

What is the best treatment for shingles?

Early treatment with antiviral medications is recommended. Pain relief medication such as paracetamol, wet compresses, calamine lotion, and warm oatmeal baths are also recommended.

What is the main cause of shingles?

Shingles are caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Is shingles caused by stress?

Shingles are not caused by stress, but your risk of developing shingles is increased by stress. The virus may become reactivated if you are severely stressed.

Do shingles go away?

Shingles do not go away. It remains dormant in your body after you have had chickenpox. Shingles symptoms do however normally improve within 2 to 4 weeks.

Conclusion

Shingles is a viral infection that can cause significant pain and discomfort. Vaccination is strongly recommended for people aged 50 and over, to reduce the risk of developing shingles and its complications. Staying informed, taking preventive measures and seeking early medical attention can reduce your risk of developing shingles and its associated complications.

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Service Information

What does the Get Treated Privately service do?

The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.

Is this a safe service?

Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the consultation.

What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?

Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.

Is the service available in the United States and the United Kingdom?

No. At the moment, it is only available in the United Kingdom.

Do I need to pay for this service?

Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the medication you are prescribed.

How do I book a consultation?

Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately quick action widget which is located at the bottom of your dashboard. You can then select one of the following actions – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’.

Depending on the search type, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. You will then need to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available clinicians. From this list, you can filter clinicians by gender and then select the clinician you would like to confirm for your booking.

Once you have approved this, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before it is due to start.

You can ‘star’ the Get Treated Privately quick action widget to have it display in the ‘My Favourite Widgets’ section of your dashboard, for ease of future booking or checking active or past orders.

What happens during the remote video consultation?

During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to diagnose your health condition and consider possible treatment options. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is a safe and appropriate option for you.

If it is, the clinician will discuss the various treatment options that may be available, so that you can jointly agree on the option that is most suited to you. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription order which will be available in your ‘shopping cart’ at the end of the consultation.

Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your GP of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your GP is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.

What happens at the end of the consultation?

At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise if any referrals were made to your GP, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.

If a GP referral letter was issued, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘My Documents’ section of your dashboard.

If you were prescribed a treatment plan, it will now be available in your shopping cart. When you go to your shopping cart, you will be able to checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.

What if the prescriber does not prescribe what I want?

We operate a safe and effective service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can demand a certain medication. If you are not prescribed anything, then you will not be charged.

Will I get status updates for my order?

Yes. When you place an order with NowPatient, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in your ‘My Notifications’ section on your dashboard. You can click the notification and it will take you to your active orders screen which will give you a timeline overview of the progress of your order. This can also be accessed using the ‘My Orders’ quick action widget which is on your dashboard. Here, you can access active and past orders.

How will my order be delivered?

All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour). For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.

For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.

Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?

Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.

Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.

Where do you deliver?

We currently deliver to all UK postcodes. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.

When will my order arrive?

We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped with Royal Mail, DPD, or DHL who deliver Monday – Saturday.
Our delivery options have the following delivery times:
  • Royal Mail Standard Tracked & Signed for Delivery for NHS prescriptions – 2/3 day delivery (normally 48 hours)
  • DHL Express Tracked Delivery – 1/2 day delivery (normally 24 hours)
  • Royal Mail Special Delivery – Next working day (Royal Mail Guaranteed before 1pm)

What should I do if my order has not arrived?

Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your order in the ‘My Notifications’ section of your dashboard, at any point after dispatch.

Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system, if after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.

Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?

Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.

You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.

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What does NowPatient do?

NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.

Get started today and benefit from medication remindersGet Treated PrivatelyNHS online pharmacyGP appointment bookingRx savings cardDrug CouponsUS drug savings programshealth conditions informationgenetic testinghome test kitsBMI RisksType 2 Diabetes Riskspollen meterair quality monitor, and lots more!

Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.

UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.

US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

Where is NowPatient located?

NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.

In the UK, we are located at:

NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA

In the US, we are located at:

NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX

How can I contact NowPatient?

To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.

Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:

UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977

Who owns NowPatient?

NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.

Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).

Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?

NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.

Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).

Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.

How do I make a complaint?

From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?

Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:

• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old

NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?

Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.

You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.

Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?

Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.

NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.

Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:

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What are NowPatient’s opening hours?

Our office hours are:

UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST

Please note that we are closed at weekends.

In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:

UK – 999
US – 911

In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:

UK – 111

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