Shingles, a viral infection causing red, painful blisters on the skin, affects one million people each year. The most recognizable symptoms of shingles include blisters, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, light sensitivity and upset stomach. While less common, shingles may also result in auditory damage.
Understanding the connection between shingles and your ears can help you take proactive steps to protect your hearing health.
How Does Shingles Develop?
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus responsible for chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in the body, sometimes reactivating later in life as shingles. Nearly 99% of U.S. adults over 40 have been exposed to this virus. Age, stress or a weakened immune system can trigger its resurgence.
Shingles and Auditory Health
Shingles can damage hearing through conditions like Ramsay Hunt syndrome and labyrinthitis. Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when shingles affects the facial nerve near the ear. This can cause a painful rash, facial paralysis and hearing loss on the affected side. Labyrinthitis, an inflammation in the inner ear, can arise during or after a shingles infection and lead to balance issues, vertigo and hearing difficulties.
Additional symptoms of shingles-related ear complications may include ear pain and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
Can I Prevent Shingles?
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent shingles and its complications, including hearing loss. For children, the chickenpox vaccine is key. Adults over 50 who’ve had chickenpox should talk to their healthcare provider about the shingles vaccine. If you’re not sure whether you had chickenpox as a child, your provider can run a test to confirm.
Getting vaccinated reduces the likelihood of shingles and its complications. It’s a simple, safe way to protect your long-term health. Talk to your primary care provider or Thousand Oaks pharmacy to check for shingles vaccine availability.
Why Is Protecting Hearing So Important?
Hearing is an essential part of daily life and communication. Ignoring symptoms like muffled hearing, ear pain, tinnitus or dizziness can lead to long-term complications. Protecting yourself with a vaccine and staying vigilant about symptoms ensures you can address issues early and maintain your quality of life.
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, contact your healthcare provider or schedule a hearing test with Decibel Hearing Services today.