Will Shingles Vaccine Help Genital Herpes

Who Should Not Get The Shingles Vaccine

The shingle vaccine is a live vaccine. This means that it contains weakened viruses that cannot cause infection but makes your body produce the antibodies it needs in case you are exposed to or get the infection later in life.Live vaccines, like the shingles vaccine, can cause an infection in people with very weakened immune systems and should not be used in people with leukaemia, lymphoma, other conditions affecting your bone marrow, tuberculosis or in people having immunosuppressive therapy such as chemotherapy. Check with your doctor if you are unsure if you are in this group. It should also not be given to children and pregnant women.

What Is Shingles What Does Shingles Look Like

Shingle is a disease characterized by a painful, blistering skin rash that affects one side of the body, typically the face or torso. This condition may also be referred to as herpes zoster, zoster, or zona. The word shingles comes from the Latin word cingulum, which means belt. There are approximately 1 million estimated new cases per year in the U.S., with almost one out of every three people developing shingles at some point in their lifetime. Though most people who develop shingles will only have a single episode, there are some who develop recurrent cases of shingles. Shingles are more common in older individuals and in those with weakened immune systems.

The characteristic rash of shingles typically appears after an initial period of burning, tingling, itching, or stinging in the affected area. After a few days, the rash then appears in a stripe or band-like pattern along a nerve path , affecting only one side of the body without crossing the midline. The rash erupts as clusters of small red patches that develop into blisters, which may appear similar to chickenpox. The blisters then break open and slowly begin to dry and eventually crust over.

Are There Any Home Remedies For Shingles

Care for the skin rash can be provided at home, and this can offer some symptom relief.

• Topical calamine lotion can be applied to the rash in order to decrease itching.
• Cool wet compresses against the painful rash can sometimes be soothing, and for some individuals, a compress with aluminum acetate solution may also be helpful.
• For some, colloidal oatmeal baths may also provide relief from the itching.
• It is important to maintain good personal hygiene, avoid scratching the rash, wear loose-fitting clothes, and try to keep the affected area clean in order to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the skin.
• The rash should be covered to decrease the risk of transmissibility should you come into contact with susceptible individuals.

Don’t Miss: What Medicine Is Used To Treat Herpes

Is Genital Herpes Infection Related To Hiv

Herpes and HIV are caused by different viruses. But patients infected with these viruses are more likely to transmit either disease to their sexual partners. Patients with herpes are more vulnerable to HIV infection. People newly diagnosed with herpes should be tested for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

Patients who are infected with both herpes and HIV also may have a higher concentration of HIV viruses in their body because of the interaction between the herpes virus and the HIV virus. When HIV damages a persons immune system, the person may be more likely to shed herpes simplex virus asymptomatically.

Chicken Pox Vaccine Curing Herpes

I have HSV1 genital herpes I’m just getting over my first outbreak and have seen a lot of people say the chicken pox vaccine can help with having less hsv breakouts or none at all??? This outbreak was so horrible I never want to go through it again so if anyone has taken this vaccine with hsv please let me know how it’s helped you or if it’s worked or not and if anyone knows any information on it please let me know!!!!

0 likes, 19 replies

Recommended Reading: Why Do I Keep Having Genital Herpes Outbreaks

What Do I Do If My Patient Develops A Vesicular Rash Following The Zostavax Vaccine

After receiving Zostavax®, a vesicular rash may occur within 3-4 weeks of vaccine administration which may be associated with being unwell/ fever. Take a swab of the skin lesion where possible, following consultation with SAEFVIC. Take a photo if possible as part of the documentation, and manage the rash with administration of antivirals and analgesics, as appropriate. Antiviral therapy should be initiated within 72 hours for optimal benefit.

Complications Of Shingles: Ramsay Hunt Syndrome & Bacterial Skin Infection

• Ramsay Hunt syndrome: If shingles affect the nerves of the face, this uncommon complication can lead to facial muscle paralysis, and the characteristic rash can affect the ear and the ear canal, and rarely the mouth. Symptoms may include ear pain, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and dizziness. Though most people recover fully with treatment, some individuals may have permanent facial weakness and/or hearing loss.
• Bacterial skin infection: A secondary bacterial infection of the skin blisters can sometimes develop, leading to cellulitis or impetigo. These skin infections may be characterized by increasing redness, tenderness, and warmth in and around the area of the rash. Most of these bacterial skin infections are caused by either Staphylococcus aureus or group A Streptococcus bacteria. These bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.

You May Like: Can You Treat Herpes At Home

How Do I Get The Shingles Vaccination

Once you become eligible for the shingles vaccination, a GP or practice nurse will offer you the vaccine when you attend the surgery for general reasons.

You can have a shingles vaccine at the same time as most other vaccines. But try to leave 7 days between the shingles vaccine and a coronavirus vaccine, so that if you have any side effects you’ll know which vaccine they were from.

If you are worried that you may miss out on the shingles vaccination, contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment to have the vaccine.

Who Should Get The Shingles Vaccine

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the shingles vaccine is called Zostavax. One dose of Zostavax is recommended, and available free for people aged 65-80. People aged 50-64 years who are at increased risk of shingles may also want to think about having the vaccination. Ask your doctor or nurse if you are unsure. It is not free for this group.

As with any vaccine, the effectiveness decreases over time. This may mean that protection is lost in older age when there is a higher risk of developing shingles and having more serious complications. When you are vaccinated you are about 70% protected. After a year you are about 50% protected. By 78 years after vaccination, you are around 32% protected. Your doctor can help you decide when to have the shingles vaccine.Booster dosesIf you have had the shingles vaccine in the past and are worried about how effective it is likely to be now, speak to your doctor. There is no information about whether another dose of the shingles vaccine provides any benefit. Although there are no recommendations, adults who have previously received the shingles vaccine can receive a second dose after 1 year. There are no safety concerns about receiving a second dose.

Read Also: How To Test For Herpes 2

How Do Health Care Professionals Diagnose Shingles

Shingles can often be diagnosed by your doctor based on the distinctive appearance and distribution of the characteristic shingles rash.

• A painful, blistering rash that is localized to defined dermatomes is a sign highly suggestive of shingles.
• Blood work or other testing is usually not necessary.
• Diagnosing shingles before the appearance of the rash or in cases of zoster sine herpete can be challenging.
• In cases where the diagnosis is unclear, laboratory tests are available to help confirm the diagnosis. Depending on the clinical situation, testing can be done using either blood work or by specialized testing of skin lesion samples.

Where Does The Herpes Virus Live In The Body

The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together. For the genital area, the ganglia are adjacent to the spinal cord in the lower back. For orofacial herpes , the ganglia are located behind the cheek bone.

Read Also: What Does The Beginning Of Herpes Feel Like

First A Primer On Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster is another word for shingles, i.e. an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin. It’s triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says. For the record: This is not the same thing as genital herpes or oral herpes those two conditions are caused by different herpes viruses.

How Long Should I Wait After Chemotherapy Or Radiotherapy Before Vaccinating A Patient

Patients should wait at least 6 months after the end of treatment and after patients are demonstrated to be in remission before considering immunisation with Zostavax®. The timeline will be different for patients following an allogeneic transplant, refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for further information.

Don’t Miss: How To Relieve Genital Herpes Symptoms

Causes And Risk Factors Of Shingles

The varicella zoster virus the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This group also includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes.

But the varicella zoster virus is not the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. The viruses that cause oral and genital herpes are herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2.

If youve had chickenpox, you can get shingles. After the chickenpox is over, varicella zoster lies inactive, mainly in spinal or cranial nerves. Sometimes the virus reactivates, and thats when it travels along the nerves to erupt as a rash on your skin, causing shingles.

Vaccine Shows Promise Against Herpes Virus

by University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virusrewired to keep it from taking refuge in the nervous system and eluding an immune responsehas outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study from the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Published Nov. 6 in the journal Nature Vaccines, the study found that vaccinating guinea pigs with the modified live virus significantly increased the production of virus-combating antibodies. When challenged with a virulent strain of herpes simplex virus, the vaccinated animals displayed fewer genital lesions, less viral replication and less of the viral shedding that most readily spreads infection to others.

The modified virus is actually a form of herpes simplex virus type 1, best known for causing cold sores around the lip. The fact that it demonstrated cross-protection against HSV type 2the sexually transmitted type usually responsible for genital herpessuggests that an HSV-2-specific edition of the vaccine could prove even more effective, the researchers said.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 500 million people have HSV-2, which persists for a lifetime and often flares up in response to stress. In addition to causing blisters, HSV-2 increases the risk for HIV infection and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

‘It’s going to have a big impact’

Explore further

Also Check: What To Put On Herpes On Lips

I Inadvertently Gave A Patient A Zoster Vaccine And Later Realised That It Had Been Administered 4 Months Prior What Should We Do

Currently, zoster vaccine is recommended as a single dose only. It is important to document the event and report it to SAEFVIC as a drug administration error. Immunisation providers should also establish procedures to minimise similar incidents from re-occurring.

To avoid errors of multiple doses being administered, thoroughly check patient records and the AIR. Do not rely on patient recall for a vaccine history. Check vial label 3 times to make sure youre administering the product you intended.

Can A Person Who Is Living In The Same Household As Someone Who Is Immunosuppressed Or Pregnant Receive Shingles Vaccine

Yes, shingles vaccine can be given to adults in close contact with babies and children, pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems. There is an extremely small risk of a vaccine-related rash and the low possibility of wildtype varicella-zoster virus transmission. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

You May Like: How Is Herpes Transmitted Non Sexually

Your Good Health: Herpes Drug Can Lower Risk Of Shingles

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 60-year-old woman who has been taking a 200-mg tablet of acyclovir every day for HSV-2 suppression. I may have an outbreak every few years, and they are pretty mild. When I do have an outbreak, I increase my dosage to 1,000 mg per day. What is the procedure when I want to get the shingles vaccine ? Would I need to stop taking the acyclovir for two weeks before getting the vaccine and then be able to continue after? Does taking acyclovir help to suppress shingles in any way?

B.S.

Acyclovir, as well as the related valacyclovir and famciclovir , is an antiviral drug that is used for treatment and sometimes suppression of herpes viruses.

Shingrix is a new, two-dose vaccine for shingles. It is a subunit vaccine, meaning it is made from a viral protein, not from the live virus. You do not need to stop taking the acyclovir before getting the two doses of the vaccine. With the live vaccine , you did need to stop acyclovir, in just the way you suggested.

Thats another advantage of the new vaccine, but the most important advantage is that the new vaccine is much more effective. Disadvantages include its high cost, the need for two doses and a higher incidence of mostly local side-effects, such as sore arm, but also fever and just feeling poorly. There is, unfortunately, a shortage in most of the U.S.

Many physicians would recommend that you try going off the acyclovir to see whether you get recurrences of the HSV-2 so often. That part is up to you.

T.M.

Herpes Virus Vaccine Shows Promise In Preclinical Study

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new preclinical study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The vaccine, called R2, is a form of the herpes simplex virus type 1 virus that causes cold sores around the lip, but can cross-protect against HSV type 2 , the sexually transmitted type of HSV that is usually responsible for genital herpes. To generate the vaccine, the virus was effectively engineered to keep it from taking refuge in the nervous system and eluding an immune response.

The newly reported study showed that vaccinating guinea pigs using the modified live virus vaccine significantly increased the production of virus-combating antibodies. And when challenged with a virulent strain of HSV-2, vaccinated animals displayed fewer genital lesions, reduced viral replication, and less of the viral shedding that spreads infection to others.

The development of an effective vaccine for HSV is a priority because it is a common infection that causes physical and emotional stress as well as increasing the risk for HIV infection, the team noted. The recent failure of subunit HSV vaccines has highlighted the need for vaccines that present a diverse array of antigens, including the development of next-generation live-attenuated vaccines.

Read Also: Can Chlamydia Turn Into Herpes

Will There Be Any Side Effects From The Shingles Vaccination

There are 2 shingles vaccines: Zostavax and Shingrix .

With both vaccines it’s quite common to get redness and discomfort at the vaccination site, headaches and fatigue, but these side effects should not last more than a few days. See a GP if you have side effects that last longer than a few days, or if you develop a rash after having the shingles vaccination.

Read more about the shingles vaccine side effects.

What Is Herpes Simplex Virus

HSV is a virus that can cause painful ulcers in your mouth or on your genitals. There are two main herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 infections most commonly affect your mouth, but they may also result in sores on your genitals. HSV-2, on the other hand, primarily affects your genitals. In the U.S., over 50% of adults have HSV-1, and 15% of sexually active people have HSV-2.

Once youve been infected with HSV, the virus stays in your body long term, causing sores or blisters to appear periodically . In rare cases, it can cause life-threatening infections like meningitis and encephalitis.

When you think of herpesviruses, HSV is likely what comes to mind. But both types of HSV are actually part of a larger family of herpesviruses, including:

Read Also: How To Make Herpes Sore Heal Faster

Herpes Zoster Infection Not Genital Herpes

The Israeli study was actually evaluating whether mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s shots, are safe for people with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases a group of conditions that affect the body’s joints, bones, muscles and connective tissue since clinical trials have excluded this specific patient group.

The observational study conducted at the Tel Aviv Medical Center and Carmel Medical Center in Haifa monitored 491 people with AIIRD and 99 controls for six weeks after they received Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Six women between the ages of 36 and 61 with stable rheumatic diseases developed herpes zoster infection. Five cases occurred after the first dose and one after the second.

With the exception of one woman getting HZ affecting the eyes, all five cases were mild and resolved after antiviral treatment.

“We haven’t seen any additional cases so far,” Dr. Victoria Furer, lead author of the report and rheumatologist at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, told MedPage Today.

HZ is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, part of the same family of viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. But HZ doesn’t itself cause these conditions.

“Our report does not establish any causality or definite link but draws the attention to a possible association between mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and herpes zoster,” Furer told the Associated Press.