The risk of shingles in Vietnam is very high.

Elderly people are screened before vaccination at VNVC

According to doctors, both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same pathogen, the Varicella Zoster virus (VZV). Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles.

In Vietnam, hospitals have also recorded an increase in shingles after the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of cases of complications and hospitalizations each year.

Most adults have been exposed to the chickenpox virus but have no obvious symptoms. With thousands of cases of chickenpox each year, combined with an aging population and multiple chronic diseases, the number of people at risk of shingles in Vietnam is very high.

The disease can cause a series of serious complications, especially common in the elderly and people with immunodeficiency and underlying diseases.

These complications include: skin damage, high levels of pain, persistent nerve pain, blindness, facial paralysis, pneumonia, hepatitis, encephalitis, meningitis, stroke…

Among them, post-herpetic neuralgia greatly affects the patient's quality of life. This is a condition in which the shingles lesions on the surface have healed but the patient still feels severe pain.

Up to 30% of cases will have post-herpetic neuralgia.

The pain is described by patients as stabbing, electric shock, even more painful than labor pain. About 50% of patients have nerve pain that lasts for up to a year and recurs many times.

Only those who have relatives with shingles can understand the terrible pain of the patient. Family members with someone with shingles also feel pain and sorrow for their loved one.

Elderly people, people with chronic underlying diseases such as respiratory (asthma, COPD), cardiovascular, kidney, diabetes..., patients with autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency/immunosuppression are at higher risk of getting shingles.

Currently, the herpes zoster vaccine produced by GSK pharmaceutical company has been approved by the Ministry of Health for use in Vietnam from May 2024. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing herpes zoster and its recurrence, and is used for people aged 50 and over and those aged 18 and over at risk of herpes zoster.

As a comprehensive strategic partner with GSK, VNVC Vaccination System will deploy this vaccine for the first time in Vietnam from early October.

To help more people understand this dangerous disease, Tuoi Tre newspaper in collaboration with the VNVC Vaccination System organized an online consultation session "The dangers of shingles, chickenpox & Introducing new vaccines" from 10:30 to 12:00 on October 4, 2024.

Experts attending the online consultation include:

– Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Thi Lam, Head of Clinical Immunology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

– Dr. Le Van Tuan, Director of the Neuroscience Center at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

– Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of VNVC Vaccination System

The program will also be Livestreamed on the following channels:

– Fanpage, Youtube of VNVC Vaccination System

– Tuoi Tre Online, Fanpage & Youtube Tuoi Tre Newspaper

– VTV8 – Vietnam Television Station

– Fanpage of Vinh Long Radio and Television Station & Youtube of Vinh Long Television

– Media channels fanpage, youtube of Tam Anh General Hospital, Nutrihome Nutrition Center.

Please read on.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguy-co-mac-zona-than-kinh-o-viet-nam-la-rat-cao-202410031322227.htm