Shingles: more than a rash, it can lead to serious health complications
UCI Health infectious disease expert encourages aging population to stay current on vaccinations
IN THE NEWS: Dr. Shruti Gohil, a board-certified infectious disease specialist and the associate medical director of UCI Health Epidemiology & Infection Prevention, recently spoke with VeryWell Health regarding the shingles virus and the need for older adults to stay up to date with their vaccinations.
Gohil says that as one ages, or the immune system weakens, the chickenpox virus can reactivate and lead to shingles, which causes a painful rash and can lead to nerve damage. After vaccination, protection remains strong for several years, although some waning of immunity can occur over time.
"Even in cases where vaccinated individuals develop shingles, symptoms are generally milder and less likely to result in long-term complications."
Gohil says some studies have also found associations between shingles and increased risks of stroke, vascular dementia, and cognitive decline. The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 and older, as well as younger people with certain immunocompromising conditions.
"It is recommended even for those who have previously had shingles or received older versions of the vaccine, as the newer vaccine provides stronger and longer-lasting protection."
Gohil is an associate professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include hospital epidemiology, infection prevention, communicable disease transmission and multidrug-resistant organism infections. She has led INSPIRE, a series of national studies to assess patient risk for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and to prompt physicians to limit the use of extended-spectrum antibacterial drugs in real time. She is a member of The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.