Can You Die From Shingles Virus

Later it can reactivate as herpes zoster which is shingles.

Can you die from shingles virus.

Approximately 1 to 4 of people who get shingles are hospitalized for complications. If you ve ever had chickenpox the virus that causes the condition can reactivate in your body. When this happens it s called shingles. It stays dormant in a dorsal root ganglion of the peripheral nervous system sensory nerve.

For years the virus can remain inactive. Older adults and people with weakened or suppressed immune system are more likely to be hospitalized. About 30 of people hospitalized for shingles have a weakened or suppressed immune system. In a roundabout way people have lost their lives to complications from shingles.

But can you die from shingles. Both are caused by the same virus although it s called varicella when it causes chicken pox. Shingles also called herpes zoster is a souvenir of childhood chicken pox infection. Shingles isn t transmitted directly from person to.

The london school of hygiene and tropical medicine studied 67 000 medical records of medicare patients diagnosed with shingles who also suffered a heart attack or stroke in the 12 months following determination. In the u s about 96 shingles related deaths occur each year and almost all the deaths occur in elderly people or people with suppressed immune system.