What are the odds of dying from shingles?

What are the odds of dying from shingles?

For people with a normal immune system, the chance of being hospitalized for shingles is around 1 in 12,000 people each year. For shingles patients, the chance of dying from shingles is 1 in 2500, with those 80 years and older at highest risk (1 in 400).

Can having shingles kill you?

For adults who are otherwise fairly healthy, shingles is not life threatening, though it can be quite uncomfortable. However, when left untreated, shingles may cause complications. For certain people — such as those over the age of 65 or whose immune systems are compromised — these complications could lead to death.

How many people die annually from shingles?

Hospitalizations and Deaths Shingles causes fewer than 100 deaths annually. Almost all shingles deaths are in elderly or people with compromised immune system.

Can shingles cross the midline?

A typical shingles eruption never crosses the midline of the body and occurs only on one side: right or left. Extremely rare cases of shingles may become diffuse and spread to the entire body in patients with very compromised immune systems.

Can shingles be cured forever?

Although there is no cure for shingles, early treatment with antiviral medications can help the blisters clear up faster and limit severe pain. Shingles can often be treated at home.

Why is it important that shingles does not cross the midline?

This is because each nerve runs from one side of the spine in the back to the middle of the front of the body and does not cross this midline. This is important when considering the rash of shingles. The rash will occur in a dermatome and will not cross the midline of the body either in the front or the back.

Do shingles occur on both sides of the body?

Very rarely, shingles can cause more widespread infection, or can affect both sides of the body, but this is usually only in people with a weakened immune system. The most commonly involved nerves are those supplying the skin on the chest or tummy (abdomen). The upper face (including an eye) is also a common site.