August 2017 This Issue: Got Health? National Immunization Clarke County Public Health Awareness Month National Immunization Upcoming events Awareness Month Prevent Shingles Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many disease that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, the smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Children no longer have to get smallpox shots because the disease no UPCOMING EVENTS: longer exists. Children in the United States still August 10th get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, there have been Healthy, Fit and resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over Fun Thursday the past few years. Since 2010, there have been between 10,000 Night in the Park and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United 5:30-7p.m. Like us on Facebook or check States and about 10 to 20 babies out our website at (many which were too young to be clarkecountypublichealth.org fully vaccinated) died each year. August 10-20th If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able Iowa State Fair to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to If you have any specific articles harm their children in the future. you would like to read about in To help keep babies safe that are our newsletters, feel free to Fall 2017 too young to be protected by contact our Health Educator at vaccinations, have severe allergies Diabetes 641-342-3724 or EMAIL or a weakened immune system, it [email protected]. is important that you and your Prevention children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. Program This will help the spread of these diseases to friends and family. How common is shingles? CDC does not have a Prevent Shingles recommendation for routine Almost one out of three people use of shingles vaccine in Shingles, also known as in America will develop shingles people 50 to 59 years old. herpes zoster, causes a during their lifetime. Nearly 1 painful, blistering skin rash million Americans experience Signs and symptoms that can last two to four the condition each year. As you weeks. For some people, the get older, you are more likely to Shingles, a painful rash, pain can last for months or get the disease. About half of develops on one side of the even years after the rash all shingles cases occur in face or body. The rash forms goes away. This pain is called people age 60 years or older. blisters that typically scab postherpetic neuralgia or over in 7 to 10 days and will PHN. It is the most common Is shingles contagious? clear up within 2 to 4 weeks. complication of shingles. The risk of shingles and PHN Shingles cannot be passed from Before the rash develops, increases as you get older. one person to another. people often have pain, However, the virus that causes itching or tingling in the area People have described pain shingles, VZV, can be spread to where the rash will develop. from shingles as others. A person who gets This may happen anywhere excruciating, aching, infected with VZV for the first from 1 to 5 days before the burning, stabbing and shock- time will develop chickenpox, rash appears. like. It has been compared to not shingles. It is spread through the pain of childbirth or direct contact with the fluid Most commonly, the rash kidney stones. This pain may from the rash blisters caused by occurs in a single stripe around lead to depression, anxiety, shingles. either the left or the right side difficulty concentrating, loss of the body. In some cases, of appetite, and weight loss. A person is not infectious before the rash occurs on one side of Shingles can interfere with the blisters appear. Once the the face. In rare cases, the activities of daily living like rash has developed crusts, the rash may be more widespread dressing, bathing, eating, person is no longer contagious. and look similar to a cooking, shopping and travel. chickenpox rash. Shingles may also lead to eye How can you reduce your complications that can result in vision loss. risk of getting shingles? Vaccination is the only way to What causes shingles? reduce your risk of shingles and PHN. Centers for Disease Shingles is caused by the Control and Prevention varicella zoster virus (VZV), recommends adults age 60 years the same virus that causes or older to receive a single dose chickenpox. After a person of shingles vaccine. Zostavax is recovers from chickenpox, the only shingles vaccine the virus stays dormant currently available. It is (inactive) in the body. For available by prescription from a reasons that are not fully healthcare professional. Talk Other symptoms: known, the virus can with your doctor or pharmacist • Fever reactivate years later and if you have questions about the • Headache cause shingles. shingles vaccine. • Chills • Upset stomach .