FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Contact:
Stephanie A. Wilken
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, Ext. 6053
swilken@aafp.org
LEAWOOD, Kan. — There is never a “typical” day for Dr. Melinda Dunn, a family physician in Overland Park, Kansas. So, Dunn wasn’t surprised when one of her patients, 57-year-old Marybeth, came to her appointment complaining of skin tingling and pain on the left side of her face and scalp that later turned into a rash of blister-like sores. She also had a slight fever and headache. Marybeth thought it was an allergic reaction to a new shampoo, so she had quit using it – but that hadn’t helped.
As a family doctor, Dunn helps patients of all ages and from all walks of life live healthier, more productive lives. Dunn promotes prevention and wellness and is trained to address a broad spectrum of health issues ranging from chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease to acute care for isolated injuries and illnesses to mental and behavioral wellbeing.
Dunn diagnosed Marybeth with shingles — a very painful and potentially debilitating disease. If someone has had chickenpox, they are at risk for getting shingles. According to the CDC, in the United States there are an estimated one million cases of shingles each year and almost one out of every three people will develop shingles.
“I urge all my healthy patients 50 years and older who have had chickenpox to get the shingles vaccine,” Dunn said. “Being vaccinated can help prevent a painful disease.” If someone already has the shingles, like Marybeth, it can be treated by antiviral medications taken as soon as possible after the rash starts.
Shingles can’t be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles can be passed to others through direct contact with fluid from the disease’s rash blisters. Contact with that fluid can cause chickenpox in someone who has never had the disease or received the vaccine. Once the rash blisters develop crusts, the person is no longer infectious.
“Don’t wait to call your family doctor if you have had chickenpox and are more than 50 years old. Save yourself potential pain and discomfort and get the shingles vaccine immediately,” Dunn said. “You’ll be glad you did.”
For more information on shingles symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment, go to familydoctor.org.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.