Tuesday, 3 October 2023 | 21:13 WIB
Antara/WDP
Herpes zoster.
Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Chickenpox, a disease that is common in childhood, can actually persist in a person’s body. This can cause the risk of shingles if the individual’s immune system decreases.
Doctor Anggraini Alam, SpA(K), Staff of the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, provided an important explanation about this phenomenon in an online event on Tuesday (3/10/2023).
Herpes zoster, or better known as shingles, is a disease that occurs due to reactivation of the varicella zoster virus which also causes chickenpox. This virus does not completely disappear from a person’s body after they recover from chickenpox, but the virus can remain active or dormant, especially in neuronal cells.
The initial symptoms of shingles vary greatly, including fever of varying temperatures, feeling weak or lethargic, as well as discomfort, soreness and pain in the area that will then experience a skin eruption.
“Herpes zoster occurs when the varicella virus, which was originally hiding in the bone marrow, becomes active again at a later date. The pain can be very severe. If it occurs in the face area, it can cause hair loss, and if it occurs in the eye area, it can cause blindness,” explained Anggraini.
Therefore, chickenpox vaccination is highly recommended as a preventive measure. According to recommendations from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), children aged 1 year can receive two doses of vaccine six months apart.
Anggraini emphasized that giving the chickenpox vaccine has no evidence to support claims that it can increase the risk of autism, as some people worry. Chickenpox vaccination has great benefits in protecting individuals from chickenpox and preventing reactivation of the varicella zoster virus which can cause shingles.
It is important to understand that chickenpox is not only a health problem for children, but also has an impact on the health of adults. Preventing it with vaccination is a smart step to avoid the risk of shingles which can interfere with a person’s quality of life.
2023-10-03 14:13:15
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