{"id":1337,"date":"2023-10-19T12:42:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T10:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drarebeccaordovas.com\/el-herpes-zoster-que-es-y-como-prevenirlo\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T21:31:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T19:31:12","slug":"el-herpes-zoster-que-es-y-como-prevenirlo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drarebeccaordovas.com\/en\/el-herpes-zoster-que-es-y-como-prevenirlo\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoster Virus, what is it and how to prevent it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article written by Dr. Abel Garc\u00eda Gasco<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is the cause of the Varicella disease, which is often passed during childhood. Once the chickenpox has passed, the virus remains latent for life with us, in the nerve ganglia of our body. Reactivation of the virus will produce Herpes Zoster, popularly known as “shingles “1. Initially (first 48-72 hours) there are usually prodromal symptoms consisting of muscle aches, headache or fever. These are followed by the appearance of skin lesions in the form of vesicles, usually on the back, typically affecting half of the body, although they may appear in other areas such as the eye region2. The lesions are usually very painful and in up to 30% of cases the pain in the affected area may persist after the disappearance of the vesicles for months or even years. This complication is known as Postherpetic Neuralgia3. Treatment of the acute process is based on analgesics and, as long as a maximum of 72 hours have passed since the appearance of the vesicles, antiviral treatments are indicated, which have been shown to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.<\/p>\n

It has been shown that the incidence of Herpes increases with age, especially after the age of 505. This is mainly due to immunosenescence or “aging” of our immune system.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, the Shingrix\u00ae Vaccine has been available in our country, the aim of which is to prevent the appearance of both Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia. This vaccine is indicated in healthy adults over 50 years of age and in patients at risk over 18 years of age (mainly immunosuppressed and oncological patients)7. The efficacy of the vaccine in patients over 50 years of age is 97.2% in the prevention of Herpes Zoster and 91.2% in the prevention of Postherpetic Neuralgia.<\/p>\n

The vaccination schedule consists of two doses, the second one to be administered 2 months after the first.<\/p>\n

As for side effects, it has proven to be a safe vaccine, which does not produce serious side effects, the most frequent being pain in the infusion area, muscle pain, headache or fever.<\/p>\n

In view of the above, we consider that the Shingrix\u00ae vaccine is highly recommended for patients over 50 years of age and for specific cases from 18 years of age onwards. In the Community of Madrid, the vaccine is currently financed (free of charge) only for patients aged 65 years, persons between 75 and 80 years, for those born in 1942 and 1957 and for specific cases of immunosuppressed patients10. However, patients born in all other years can obtain the vaccine by purchasing it from pharmacies with a prescription.<\/p>\n

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