Shingles caused by chicken pox virus on the rise in Japan

TOKYO —

A large-scale survey conducted over a 10-year period has found a 26% rise in the incidence of shingles caused by the same virus responsible for chicken pox.

The study, considered unprecedented in scale and carried out in Miyazaki Prefecture, involved 46 medical institutions, including dermatologist-run hospitals, universities and general hospitals.

Members of the dermatologist association in the prefecture such as Nozomu Toyama, director of Toyama dermatology clinic, and Kimiyasu Shiraki, professor of virology at the University of Toyama, took part in the survey which started in 1997 and lasted until 2006.

They analyzed about 48,000 people diagnosed as having shingles triggered by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. The disease is an acute inflammation of the nerve ganglia, the masses of nerve cells that transmit impulses.

Toyama said Miyazaki’s population dropped by about 28,000 during the 10-year period but the number of patients verified as having shingles grew 23%. He added that the aggregate incidence of shingles sufferers in terms of the number of patients per 1,000 people totaled 4.15, which marked an increase of 26% during the decade.

By age, the figure reached the first high point among those in their teens and dropped among people aged in their 30s. However, it soared among those in their 50s to peak at 7.84 per 1,000 people among those in their 70s.

The age of patients examined ranged from a 3-month-old baby to a 102-year-old person. The incidence among those aged 10 years old or younger stood at 2.45, indicating it was not rare for small children to be stricken with the disease. This tendency remained unchanged while the study was under way.

The highest number of patients was recorded in August while the figure sharply plunged during the winter. This was opposite to a chicken pox pandemic that normally occurs in December and January affecting 90 percent of children before they turn 5 years old.

The study confirmed past research that the incidence of shingles declined when people had increased chances of coming into contact with children who have chicken pox.

But VZV lies dormant in children’s nerves even after they shake off the infectious disease. It reactivates and causes shingles as people grow old and become vulnerable to stress, overwork and a lower tolerance for illness.

On how 30-somethings have the lowest incidence of shingles, Toyama said, ‘‘People in this generation have more chances of coming into contact with children with chicken pox than others but the booster effect they gained in addition to immunity they obtained when they suffered from VZV during their childhood may work (in their favor).’‘

The survey also revealed that women are 25% higher on average than men in the incidence of shingles, with those in their 40s to 60s—centering on those in their 50s—sharply surpassing the rate for men.

A comparison of 1997 and 2006 showed a conspicuous increase of incidence in the number of women in their 60s to 80s than their male counterparts, showing that women are mostly driving the overall rise.

There were more people in their 50s or older than those other age groups who suffered from post-shingles nerve pain. Specialists said they may need treatment at clinics or other medical institutions.

Members of the research study emphasized that people should become aware of the importance of treating the disease with antiherpes virus drugs.

Shiraki said, ‘‘Drugs help prevent the disease from becoming serious. But they are not effective for parts affected by chicken pox. Those who feel stinging pains should know they must get a medical examination.’’

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Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

KallyPygous at 08:53 AM JST - 1st November

You can get it from being overtiled.
dammit at 09:52 AM JST - 1st November

Shingles caused by chicken pox virus on the rise in Japan

Is there actually any other kind of shingles?

And what are the stats on the younger victims having been immunised? The varicella vaccine has been licensed in Japan since 1988, but there's no info here on whether the people developing shingles originally had the chicken pox virus as a disease or as a vaccination. The same virus, but weakened in the case of the vaccine.

Miyazaki’s population dropped by about 28,000 during the 10-year period but the number of patients verified as having shingles grew 23%.

This isn't well explained. 28,000 is what percentage? It's no use using numbers in one example and comparing them with a percentage. No use at all. But as the ones moving out of the area were undoubtedly mostly under 40, and the ones with shingles are mostly over 50, it's no surprise that the people numbers went down while the shingles count went up. (The increase in longevity means that less oldies would have died than implied in the 28,000 drop figure.)

He added that the aggregate incidence of shingles sufferers in terms of the number of patients per 1,000 people totaled 4.15, which marked an increase of 26% during the decade.

Normal, as the younger people are vacating en-masse. More oldies per capita = more shingles per capita.

Frankly, the only news in this article is the fact that a 3 month old baby can get it (I'm surprised it even had time to have chicken pox, let alone have the virus lying dormant in it's body.) and the fact that women are more prone to it. Both are rather alarming. It's also interesting that the more chicken pox you are exposed to the less likely you are to develop shingles. Totally the opposite of the old wives tales. (Not something that's news though, as it's been known for decades.)

http://www.vaccineinformation.org/varicel/qandavax.asp
Smythe at 11:40 AM JST - 1st November

I remember catching that at School in '37. I think the main thing my mother had to watch out for was me possibly scratching & causing a scar for live.
Apsara at 04:26 PM JST - 1st November

You would have had chicken pox, Smythe, not shingles. Anyway, it's so common a childhood disease that I'd be surprised if anyone posting comments here hasn't had it.
pawatan at 06:23 PM JST - 1st November

Anyway, it's so common a childhood disease that I'd be surprised if anyone posting comments here hasn't had it.

I never had it, but I am about the only person I know who hasn't.
Starviking at 10:58 PM JST - 1st November

I got the shingles a few years back - started with a tingling numbness in the face. Despite the fact that I work in a job with no sick leave (dispatch company) that was odd enough for me to scoot for the hospital asap. It was as well I did - even with treatment my face swelled up and I had sores over my nose and around my left eye. If I'd delayed at all I could have been permanently disfigured and lost the sight in that eye.
Molenir at 01:18 AM JST - 2nd November

Yeah, shingles is exceedingly painful. When my father got it, my grandmother told him to take high doses of some vitamin. Oddly enough, it went away just shortly afterwards. Vitamin B, D, something like that. Not that I'm saying that is better then the drugs to treat it, just saying thats what worked in my fathers case.
sharky1 at 06:15 AM JST - 2nd November

In Japan, they normally don't immunize against chicken pox. They say, "let them go through it, it will strengthen their immune system", only it makes them more likely to have the shingles later in life. It's no wonder the cases are soaring (no pun intended)
Apsara at 08:33 AM JST - 2nd November

In which countries do they immunise against chicken pox? I'm pretty sure they don't in my home country.
gogogo at 02:43 PM JST - 2nd November

errrr you can't catch Shingles unless you had chicken pox...
Smythe at 07:04 PM JST - 2nd November

Have to agree that said 'working bee' really was covered with pollen. Such an interesting photo for sure. Good work.
biglittleman at 08:23 PM JST - 2nd November

I don't remember getting immunized for chicken pox. I do remember catching it and getting over it. I also don't remember ever catching shingles. I thought my face was suppose to look like this.
usaexpat at 11:56 PM JST - 2nd November

Simple, shingles occur typically in people over 50 years of age and the population is aging. My mother caught it from my son when he had chicken pox, very nasty disease. There is a vaccine that would be worth getting if you are in the succeptible age group.
sageb1 at 02:04 PM JST - 6th November

as a child i had chicken pox, and one scar on my belly near the belly button.

hopefully, the past 20 years of meditation will keep my stress low enough that I don't get shingles.
dammit at 03:22 PM JST - 6th November

usaexpat, it's interesting you say that your mother caught shingles from your son's chicken pox. (I hope she's recovered well by the way.) All the professionals claim that it's impossible to catch shingles from chicken pox, and far more likely to happen the other way around with someone catching chicken pox from someone with shingles. Even in this article they say that being near kids with chicken pox actually protects adults from developing shingles.

So why do I hear so many people saying that they or a relative or friend caught shingles from a child with chicken pox? Can they all be wrong? Can all the profs and docs be wrong?

Of course, it's possible that shingles might cause chicken pox before the shingles causes any symptoms, and the chicken pox symptoms might then start first. But it's a bit of a long shot.