the value of immunization
When a child or adult recovers from a viral illness, such as chickenpox, some of the viruses lie dormant in the body only to re-emerge years, or even decades, later.
Some parents, don't have their children immunized for preventable diseases. A vaccination for chickenpox, in childhood can save people a lot of pain later in life.
Shingles is a well-known disease caused by the chickenpox virus varicella zoster. It causes painful sores on the body that can last for months. Even after the sores are gone, sufferers experience pain.
A shingles shot between the ages of 60 and 69 can also dramatically reduce the risk of getting the disease, or the pain associated with it if you do get the virus.
Now, researchers have discovered a serious disease that's probably caused by the same latent virus. It's called giant cell arteritis. Only 8 percent of patients they treated didn't have varicella zoster.
Researchers say that before they can definitely say the disease is caused by the chickenpox virus, they need more research. But treatment is the same.
How the 'new disease' works
According to the journal Scientific American, giant cell arteritis causes inflammation and damage to the arteries that travel from the neck to the head and scalp. Symptoms include:
* New mild to severe headache, and tenderness or pain in the temples
* Scalp tenderness; it may hurt to brush or comb your hair
* Sudden double vision or vision disturbances that come and go, like a veil being pulled over your eye, which can cause permanent vision loss.
* Jaw pain and weakness when you chew or open your mouth wide
* Pain when you use your arm.
Early indications include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, depression, sore throat, dry cough and a low fever. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Treatment
Your rheumatologist will treat you with high doses of a corticosteroid like prednisone. Symptoms may go away in a few days, but treatment will continue for a month, or you could be prescribed low-dose steroids for a year or more.
