Shingles Disease Process and Vaccination for Pharmacists

Course overview

erpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, affects approximately one out of every three Americans in their lifetime, resulting in an estimated 1 million cases in the United States each year. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles can potentially affect anyone who has had chicken pox, and it can affect any age group, though the risk of developing shingles increases significantly with age. The risk also increases for people with a weakened immune system, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cancer, or those taking immunosuppressive medications such as steroids (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Shingles causes a characteristic rash typically localized in one area of the body. Serious complications, which often depend on the rash location, can arise, such as pain that persists after the rash has cleared and even vision or hearing loss. Treatment typically focuses on antiviral therapy and symptom control. Shingles can be prevented through vaccination, which is recommended for adults over 50 since the immune system weakens with age. This course serves to review the disease process of shingles and the use of vaccinations to prevent shingles (CDC, 2019).