At the annual National Dermatology Conference, the 2nd Dermatology Research Conference and the 6th Indochina Dermatology Conference recently held in Hue City, many experts emphasized the importance of proactive prevention to minimize the serious consequences of shingles.
The reference document “Prevention of shingles with vaccines” jointly produced by the Vietnam Medical Association and leading experts from specialized medical associations and GSK Vietnam Pharmaceutical Company Limited has provided information on the impact of shingles in people over 50 years old and with comorbidities. At the same time, it provides guidance on shingles prevention and supports the implementation of the Ministry of Health ’s guidelines on shingles in routine practice.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. This disease is very painful for the patient, and can even cause serious and long-term complications. With acute pain, treatment can cure it within one to three months, but with chronic pain, the patient can even endure pain for years, greatly affecting the patient's quality of life and putting a lot of pressure on the caregiver.
According to data from the Central Dermatology Hospital, in 2022, 62% of shingles cases that came to the clinic had painful complications. Notably, more than 70% of cases occurred in people over 50 years old with an average hospital stay of 6.6 days.
In addition, patients with shingles have to bear direct costs for inpatient treatment, medication... Notably, patients with complications related to shingles have to bear 42% higher costs than patients without complications, mainly due to the increase in inpatient services.
At dermatology conferences, leading experts have recommended the importance of the treating physician in advising patients on early shingles prevention, especially those with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Associate Professor, Dr. Le Huu Doanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Dermatology Association, Director of the Central Dermatology Hospital, said that vaccination helps reduce the risk of shingles and the burden of complications from shingles. Treating physicians play an important role in preventing shingles, especially in patients with underlying diseases, and integrating vaccination into routine clinical practice. Doing this well will help significantly reduce the burden of disease for patients in particular and the health system in general.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/quan-ly-va-du-phong-chu-dong-de-han-che-thap-nhat-nhung-he-luy-cua-benh-zona-post847665.html
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