Has anyone else contracted shingles as a result of Prednisolone/steroid use ?

[AnthonyHeard]

[NickyD]

Dear Anthony I have had shingles as a result of Steroid use.

[AnthonyHeard Administrator ITP Support Association]

Hello Nicky, Thank you for responding to my question regarding shingles. I flagged it up really to warn steroid users that shingles is a real possibility for long term steroid users. I was not warned about it by my specialist(s) albeit when I contracted shingles for Christmas 2009 my specialist confrimed that shingles was a common result of long term steroid usage. He advised that as the steroids suppress the immune system at such times of weakness the chicken pox virus (which remains resident in our system if we ever have chicken pox at any time in our lives), reawakens in the form of shingles. It was the most painful thing I have ever had and although I was prescribed the anti viral drug Aciclovir, which I took for 14 days , the pain and general discomfort went on for ages. I still get some itching from it.

So the reason for my question was really just to let folk know that long term steroid use can lead to shingles. If anyone does contract shingles I would advise them to get to their doctor/specialist asap because the quicker you can get the anti viral drug the quicker the shingles can be cleared up and the less damage it can do to your nerve endings which shingles attacks and leaves permenantly damaged.

In my case I was put on steroids four times over a four year period so I would not want people to think that all steroid users will get shingles but it is as well to know that it CAN happen if you use steroids.

For further information on shingles, see nhs.uk/conditions/shingles