Shingles Awareness Week: Australians over 50 urged to understand their risk

Australians over 50 are being encouraged to stay aware of their risk of shingles as part of Shingles Awareness Week (February 24 to March 2), with leading Australian personalities sharing their experience with the virus to raise awareness.

Shingles is a viral infection that is caused by the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox (also known as the varicella zoster virus), resulting in a painful, blistering skin rash. It’s a disease that can affect anyone, at any age who has had chickenpox, but it is most common in people 50 years of age and older.

The risk of developing shingles increases as we get older. This is because as we age, particularly after 50, our immune system naturally declines. Other risk factors for shingles include having a weakened immune system or contracting chickenpox in the first year of life.

Despite the risk to older adults, new research commissioned by GSK Australia, based on a survey of 600 Australians, revealed that those aged 50-79 have limited understanding of their risk of shingles.

Over a third (36 percent) of respondents are unaware that one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. Additionally, 26 percent do not believe that adults over 50 are at risk of developing shingles.

Shingles Awareness Week aims to increase understanding of the impact of shingles and address common misconceptions.

To raise awareness, journalist Shelly Horton and AFL-legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico have joined news presenter Deborah Knight as Shingles Awareness Week ambassadors, having experienced first-hand the pain and impact of shingles.

“I experienced shingles during a very stressful time of my life. A huge spread of tiny blisters appeared on my right inner thigh, which left me in excruciating pain, and I felt completely debilitated,” Horton shared.

“Since my experience, many people close to me have been affected by this condition. My mum had shingles, which caused a rash across her torso. It was so painful she couldn’t even drive or sit on the couch to watch TV. She almost went to hospital because she thought it was kidney stones.”

Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, recognised as one of Hawthorn Football Club’s most prominent players, has also experienced the painful and debilitating effects of shingles, both personally and through caring for his partner during her shingles diagnosis.

“Compared to the pain of many of my sporting injuries, shingles was relentless. It put me out of action for nine days,” said Dipper.

“I had a large, itchy, red rash suddenly appear on the left side of my body. It was so uncomfortable, I slept on a mattress in the lounge room with the air conditioning running to try and find some relief. It was horrible to experience personally, and I know some of my loved ones, like my partner and my mum, have also experienced the pain and discomfort of shingles.”

Leading expert, Professor Tony Cunningham, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (WIMR) and Vaccine Theme Leader at Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (SydneyID), The University of Sydney, suggests that Australians aged 50 and over should not underestimate their shingles risk even if they don’t recall having had chickenpox.

“If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in your body. Almost all Australians have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having it or were asymptomatic, and so are at risk of shingles as they carry the inactive virus. As you get older, there is a decline in your immune system that can leave you susceptible to the reactivation of this virus, which causes shingles,” said Professor Cunningham.

To help reduce the impact on people’s lives and the disruption to everyday activities that shingles can cause, Australians aged 50 years and over are encouraged to learn more about the signs, symptoms and risk factors for shingles

What are the signs and symptoms?

The shingles rash appears as red blotches on your skin, which can feel itchy and turn into painful blisters that can take several weeks to heal. You may also experience fever, headache, chills, sensitivity to light and touch, an upset stomach and an overall sense of not feeling well.

Shingles usually affects one side of the body or face and can develop on your torso, arms, thighs, or head – including in your eyes or ears. However, most people develop shingles around their chest area and abdomen.

People often describe the pain of shingles as aching, burning, stabbing, or shock-like. As a result, shingles has the potential to impact your ability to do simple, everyday activities like getting dressed, walking, and sleeping. In some cases, people report early symptoms such as pain, itching, tingling or numbness 48-72 hours before the rash develops in the area.

But shingles doesn’t just affect you physically – it can take an emotional toll on you as well. It is debilitating and can leave you feeling frustrated and helpless when you can’t do the things you want to do. It can also have a negative impact on your mood, sleep, mobility and social life.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.