Shingles: No joking matter

In all my years practicing medicine, Herpes Zoster or Shingles may be the most disturbing and dramatic disease I've seen. The disease comes on quickly and can be extremely painful both during the outbreak and afterward. The one outbreak I remember most was in a woman with an outbreak that involved the trigeminal nerve that supplies the face. Two factors you should consider: 1. The disease is largely preventable by vaccination (recommended for those over age 60), and 2. treatment with an antiviral agent (as early as possible) can control the outbreak and reduce the likelihood of complications. I took the vaccine and so did my wife. Talk with your doctor about Zostavax. HERPES ZOSTER (SHINGLES)