Does shingles last long in adults? That’s a question asked by many adults who have received this infection. Shingles in adults occurs when the virus causing the condition grows and replicates in a different part of the body than the area it originally infected. The result is often painful shingles outbreaks that last for weeks or even months.
The answer is complicated. The exact causes are not known in most cases. There are, however, several factors that appear to increase the likelihood that adults will develop this condition. They include having a weakened immune system, having had exposure to the virus since childhood, and living with a compromised immune system. Let’s take a closer look at these factors and how they may be linked to shingles in adults.
First, it’s important to address the fact that the immune system doesn’t become weak just because one has received an infection. Nor does one become immunocompromised after receiving treatment. So, if you’ve had an infection, that likely doesn’t affect your ability to fight off a future infection. However, a number of factors may weaken the immune system. These include:
The most common time of year to get this condition is late spring or early summer. This is also the time of year when the number of people reporting shingles generally increases. Because the infection typically appears around this time, it’s also the time when insurance companies evaluate risk compensation. For this reason, those who get the infection in this period are often offered the most generous compensation.
Another factor that makes adults suffer from shingles more than younger people is the tendency of the illness to run in families. Genes carry the risk of developing this condition as well, so it’s not uncommon for close relatives to suffer from the condition. Those with a history of the illness are more likely to suffer from it in the future as well. However, if you have recently moved and your family has never been exposed to the disease, you may not have a genetic predisposition to the illness. Also, if your younger siblings haven’t had shingles, and you’ve got no family history of the condition, you may be at a greater risk.
In addition to the above factors, adults who’ve had shingles also tend to experience symptoms more often than do those who haven’t had the infection. This is because the pain associated with shingles (especially in the face) is very uncomfortable. Those who’ve had it before are also more likely to have symptoms come on quicker. Adults can take comfort in knowing they won’t have permanent scars from the disease. Also, since the infection is gone after the shingles have disappeared, there is less chance that the condition will come back. This is an advantage for adults over children, as children’s blisters can come back after healing.
The question “Does shingles last long in adults?” can be answered in the affirmative if you are careful about following the shingles treatment plan. It is always recommended to use the top effective shingles cream for treatment. It’s important to note that this is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. Seek medical attention for shingles right away if you experience extreme discomfort or any symptoms that persist even after your first treatment. You may need to have follow-up treatments to avoid outbreaks.
Finally, the answer depends on how severe your case of shingles is. If you only have mild shingles, you may have little risk of complications. In this case, continued use of the treatment could help curb the severity of your outbreaks, making them shorter only. If your case is more severe, you will run the risk of complications. This can include loss of vision, infections and other problems.