what?
The culprit of chickenpox and "loin loin" was actually the same virus
Did you know that the chickenpox that loves the "scourge" of children and the "loin loin" that often "torts" the middle-aged and elderly people are actually two diseases caused by the same virus. This virus is the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
Today, experts from the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Immunization Prevention Institute came to talk to you about the past and present of chickenpox and shingles, and the most effective way to deal with this virus.
To understand this puzzling virus, we must first understand the two diseases of chickenpox and shingles.
Speaking of chickenpox, everyone is familiar with it. It often occurs in infants and preschool children. The source of infection is mainly chickenpox patients. The main source of infection is fever and skin and mucous membrane rashes. The rashes are often distributed centripetally, mainly on the trunk.
The herpes zoster, which mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, is commonly known as "loin loin" in folk because it mostly occurs on the lower back.
Herpes zoster is not only manifested as a unilateral skin rash on the body, but also accompanied by acute neuralgia, especially in middle-aged and elderly people over 50 years old, this pain will become more serious, directly affecting the normal life of the elderly.
Remind you that if you find a small blister on the back or face of the elderly in the family, don't take it seriously. At this time, it may be herpes zoster.
Although chickenpox and shingles are two diseases that occur in different people, experts say that chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus-this virus is varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
Varicella is caused by a primary infection of VZV, and shingles is caused by the reactivation of VZV that is latent in the human body.
It turns out that after the virus enters the human body for the first time, many people will get chickenpox because of the virus. In fact, some people can also get the virus but do not show any symptoms.
Investigations at home and abroad have found that almost all people ≥50 years of age have been infected by VZV.
But there is a common feature, that is, the virus that enters the human body will not be completely eliminated by the immune system, and will silently hide in the human spinal cord or cranial ganglia.
This virus is very cunning. It will wait for opportunities. Once the body's immune function is reduced, the latent virus will activate and return to the skin to cause a rash. This is the origin of shingles.
Epidemiological investigations at home and abroad have found that people ≥50 years of age are high-risk groups of shingles.
At the same time, the relationship between chickenpox and shingles also shows that VZV can be transmitted to children through shingles patients, causing children to suffer from chickenpox.
After the elderly in the family get shingles, the virus will be released from the ruptured skin and enter the surrounding environment. At this time, because the immune function of the children around is immature, they will be infected by the virus in the environment and suffer from chickenpox.
Is there any good way to deal with this virus?
According to experts from the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Immunization Prevention Institute, vaccination is an effective way to prevent these two diseases.
Among them, the varicella vaccine has been introduced into China for more than 20 years.
The shingles vaccine was also introduced in China in 2019. You may not be familiar with it. Who can get it, whether it needs to be vaccinated for shingles, how effective is the vaccine, etc. These are all issues of concern.
First of all, middle-aged and elderly people ≥50 years old can be vaccinated regardless of whether you have had shingles.
The vaccine produces more than 90% protective efficacy in people ≥50 years of age.
Secondly, the shingles vaccine is injected intramuscularly, and the immunization program is two doses with an interval of 2 to 6 months between the two doses.
Currently, most community health service centers in Beijing can make appointments for herpes zoster vaccination.
Text/Reporter Li Jie