Shingles is a viral skin disease that can arise as a complication of chickenpox in patients over the age of 50, according to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. People who develop shingles can experience intensely painful skin blistering in conjunction with the flulike symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue and nausea. Treatment with the shingles vaccine can help prevent the development of this condition. Though the dangers of the shingles vaccine are limited, they should be discussed with a doctor before a patients receives this vaccination.
Shingles
Leukemia, AIDS or chemotherapy and radiation treatments are all conditions that act to suppress a patient's immune system. Poor immune system function interferes with a patient's ability to fight off infection. Patients with compromised immune systems who receive the shingles vaccine are in danger of developing shingles symptoms, such as skin rash or blistering. Consequently, the shingles vaccine should not be administered to patients who do not have healthy immune systems, warns Merck, the pharmaceutical company that distributes this vaccine.
Allergic Reaction
A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis is a rare but potential danger of the shingles vaccine. Anaphyalxis can cause life-threatening medical complications such as breathing and heart rate irregularities, dizziness, weakness, pale skin, throat swelling or wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Due to these dangers, patients with a known allergic to gelatin, neomycin or any of the other ingredients in the shingles vaccine should not be treated with this drug. If a patient experiences an allergic reaction after receiving the shingles vaccine, he should receive immediate emergency medical care to prevent the development of severe complications.
Side Effects
Patients who receive the shingles vaccine are in danger of developing certain side effects. In clinical trials for this vaccine, approximately one-third of treated patients reported developing redness, tenderness or pain at the injection site, Merck reports. Additional injection site side effects can include swelling, bruising, itching or unusual warmth. Patients treated with the shingles vaccine may also develop a mild headache, which can be alleviated through the use of an over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen. These side effects typically subside within one to two days following the initial vaccination. Patients who experience severe or persistent skin reactions or headache symptoms should consult a doctor.
