Six facts about herpes zoster, a disease that affects Justin Bieber

Due to all this healthy scenario, Justin has been canceling shows for some time, for example, his performance in Rock in Rio risked it not happening. Other performances on his schedule, more specifically on his world tour, have yet to be confirmed; As in the performances in São Paulo that take place on the 14th and 15th of September. According to sources in capital Citiesthe singer canceled this event and others to take care of his physical and emotional health – an official statement has not yet been released.

What is shingles, one of the diseases that affects Justin Bieber?

Called ear herpes zoster (or Ramsay Hunt), the infectious disease is caused by the chickenpox virus, which can recur during puberty. In general, anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, however, the pathogen is latent and usually activated by reduced immunity in immunosuppressed people, diabetics, children, or the elderly. Ramsay Hunt is not contagious, but if a patient develops blisters in the ears, the virus can transmit the virus to people who have not had it in their bodies before.

In Bieber’s case, it is possible that severe depression and a weakened immune system due to his Lyme disease facilitated reactivation of shingles. In Brazil, for example, the number of cases of the disease increased by 35% during the epidemic, according to a survey conducted by the State University of Montes Claros (Unimontes). Although it is common, not everyone is aware of the condition that affects people of all ages. Here are six important facts you should know:

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1. It starts with chickenpox

Shingles is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the chickenpox virus. According to Carlos Alberto Aita, clinical pathologist and technical director of DB Diagnóstico, anyone with chickenpox, regardless of age, can get shingles, so it’s important to be aware of symptoms like headaches, small blisters, skin redness, fever, and itching.

2. Monkeypox virus ‘cousin’

Varicella zoster is a “cousin” virus of monkeypox, which causes monkeypox in monkeys. So the symptoms can be very similar. “It is essential that the diagnosis be made via a lab test prescribed by a doctor, and not on your own,” Aita emphasizes.

3. Stress can activate the virus

Doctors and researchers cannot say precisely what causes the chickenpox virus to reactivate and cause shingles. It is known that it sometimes occurs when medications and other diseases weaken the immune system. In addition, the stress factor was also related to the events.

4. Greater eye and ear care

In its most severe form, shingles can infect a facial nerve and cause paralysis, as happened to singer Justin Bieber. But the infection can also cause pain and soreness around the eye, affecting vision. If the ear is affected, there may be pain and difficulty hearing. “Therefore, it is important to follow up with an ophthalmologist or an ear, nose and throat specialist to see if shingles is close to the eye or ear,” the specialist explains.

5. Higher risk after age 50

Although shingles affects people of all ages, those over 50 are more likely to reactivate the virus as immunity tends to decline as we age.

6. Vaccine for prevention

There is a vaccine to prevent shingles. The immune system can be found in private health networks (it is not yet available in the public health network). As a single dose, the vaccine should be taken even by those who have already had the disease. However, those who have already had shingles need to wait at least one year between the acute case and application of the vaccine.

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