Shingles Cases Surging Among Young Adults, Reduced Exposure to Varicella Virus Cited as One Cause

Recently, shingles cases have been surging even among young adults in their 20s and 30s, requiring caution. In the past, it was perceived as a disease that mainly occurred in the elderly with weakened immunity, but according to recent statistics, more than half of the patients in 2024 were aged 50 or younger. Lee Eun-hyeong, director of Seoul Eun Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Clinic, appearing on the Uihak Channel Biondwi video, cited the 'decrease in the booster effect' as one of the reasons for the increasing incidence of shingles among the younger generation.

Reasons for the Increase in Young Shingles Patients and High-Risk Groups

Shingles is a disease where the varicella virus, which remained latent in the body from a childhood infection, reactivates along the nerves when immunity drops. In the past, as children contracted chickenpox, they were naturally exposed to the virus, allowing them to gain a 'booster effect' that strengthened immunity even after becoming adults. However, recently, children have become less likely to contract chickenpox due to chickenpox vaccinations. There is speculation that because the opportunity for repeated exposure to the varicella virus has decreased due to the population structure, immunity becomes relatively weaker after becoming adults, leading to shingles even at a young age.

There are also research results suggesting that 30-year-olds with underlying conditions may be at higher risk than healthy 50-year-olds. In particular, caution is required for those suffering from asthma, COPD, depression, diabetes, stress, or gastrointestinal diseases. However, many cases occur without any specific underlying conditions. Meanwhile, regarding the heredity of shingles, research shows that the probability of onset is higher if a parent or sibling has suffered from shingles, but it is difficult to conclude this as a definite causal relationship. Director Lee Eun-hyeong explained that rather than viewing this solely as a genetic factor, it is appropriate to understand it as an 'infectious disease' that occurs in the process of an individual's immune system responding to a strong attack by the virus.

Recently, a new preventive vaccine, 'Shingrix', has been released, easing age restrictions. Those aged 18 or older (or 19 or older) may be recommended for vaccination. In particular, it is advisable for people who have undergone bone marrow or organ transplants, malignant cancer patients such as those with leukemia or lymphoma, HIV patients, and patients continuously taking steroids or immunosuppressants to receive the vaccination regardless of age. The ages mentioned here are all based on 'international age'.

The Golden Time and Precautions to Observe When Treating Shingles

The most important thing in treating shingles is observing the 'golden time'. Antiviral drugs must be taken within 72 hours after blisters appear. Young people often miss the timing for treatment because the pain is not as severe as in the elderly, but treatment should not be delayed just because the pain is mild.

In particular, if shingles occurs in the facial area, extreme caution must be exercised even if the pain is mild. This is because shingles in the facial area can cause damage to the eyes or ears, and in severe cases, there is a risk of leading to blindness or hearing loss. When it occurs in the facial area, it is recommended to receive consistent treatment for at least two weeks. On the other hand, treatment for other areas is usually completed in about a week.

The acute phase of shingles usually lasts about 3 weeks, but symptoms can continue for as long as 3 months to 1 year. Since the virus can hide and reappear, it is important not to overexert oneself. Additionally, to prevent scars on the skin during the treatment process, exposure to ultraviolet rays should be avoided. In particular, young women need to be careful as scars left on the face or body can be worsened by UV rays.

Individual Differences in Pain and Correct Treatment Approaches

The degree of pain from shingles varies greatly for each individual. Even if the pain is not severe, there are patients who experience pain to the extent that daily life is impossible due to accompanying general weakness or insomnia. Since pain is also an emotional experience, the suffering felt by the patient should not be taken lightly. In fact, in the case of patients accompanied by back pain and leg numbness, there are cases where they receive inpatient treatment due to general weakness and insomnia, even if the pain itself is not severe.

Symptoms do not improve steadily every day during the treatment process. Even when taking medication, improvement and worsening can repeat, such as feeling better one day and worsening again the next. Since this can be a natural process, it is important for the patient not to feel anxious and to receive consistent treatment. For pain control, in addition to antiviral drugs, powerful anti-inflammatory agents such as Nepofam infusion may be used, or stellate ganglion block (injection therapy) may be performed to calm nerve excitation. In cases where it occurs near the eye, treatments such as washing the eye with cold saline may be performed to prevent eye damage.