The varicella-zoster virus (called VZV, for varicella-zoster virus) takes hold of the nerve glands of everyone who has ever had chickenpox for life. Usually our immune system manages to keep this virus stuck in the ganglia, but it is enough when we are tired, stressed or our defenses are weak for the virus to wake up and move along our nerve endings. He then causes shingles.
This very painful rash can appear at any age but it mainly affects people over 65 (with an estimated incidence of 8 to 10 cases per 1,000 people, which represents more than 100,000 annual cases of shingles) those who have had chickenpox before a year and those who have a weakened immune system. However, all of these people would also have an increased risk of vascular disease.
A published study in Plos One has just affirmed that there would be transiently a greater number of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in people who have suffered from shingles. “People diagnosed with shingles are 2.4 times more likely to have a stroke and 1.7 times more likely to have a heart attack in the week following the attack” insists Dr Caroline Minassian of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Disease and lead author of the study.
To prevent shingles, there is now a vaccine (the Zostavax) available in pharmacies. This vaccine is reimbursed by Health Insurance for people aged 65 to 79. In addition, for people aged 75 to 79 as part of a catch-up, support or reimbursement is provided until February 28, 2017.
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