Shingles: A Common Virus With Serious Long-Term Health Risks and Low Vaccination Rates

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:54:00 +0200

This article examines shingles (herpes zoster), a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus—the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Although often perceived as a relatively mild condition, shingles can lead to severe and long-lasting complications, including intense nerve pain, vision damage, and an increased risk of stroke. Medical experts emphasize that about one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime, with risk rising significantly after age 50 or in individuals with weakened immune systems.

The disease can cause a painful rash and, in many cases, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic nerve pain condition that may persist for years. Patients often describe the pain as burning or stabbing and, in severe cases, it can severely reduce quality of life. Studies cited in the article show that shingles can lower physical health scores by around 15% and mental health scores by 13%. In rare cases, it can also lead to serious complicatio