THURSDAY, Aug. 17, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Most older Americans have heard of the painful nerve condition known as shingles but few know much about it, a new survey finds.
Shingles is an often painful disease that's marked by a blistering rash, usually on one side of the face or body. It's caused by the reactivation of the same virus that caused chickenpox in a person and can occur at anytime without warning.
More than 90 percent of American adults have had chickenpox, which means they could develop shingles. The frequency and severity of shingles increases with age, according to the American Pain Foundation (APF), which sponsored the new survey.
Of the estimated 1 million cases of shingles diagnosed each year in the United States, 40 percent to 50 percent occur in people aged 60 and older.
The survey included 1,465 older people, including 401 who said they'd had shingles in the past. Among the 1,064 respondents who did not report having had shingles:
Among the 401 people who reported having had shingles:
In an effort to improve public awareness about shingles, the APF has launched a national health education program, "Spotlight on Shingles." It recommends that older Americans who've had chickenpox talk to their doctor or another health-care provider about their risk for shingles.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about shingles.