Family history may play role in shingles

If you’ve ever had shingles (or herpes zoster), you know it’s not something you ever want to have again. It’s nasty, uncomfortable, and downright unbearable at times (says she who had it once!).

Now, news from a study published in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology, people who have shingles (How common is shingles?) may find that other family members have had it as well.

According the press release, Family history may be associated with susceptibility to shingles, “Lindsey D. Hicks, B.S., of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and colleagues compared 504 patients treated for herpes zoster between 1992 and 2005 to 523 control individuals with other minor or chronic skin conditions treated at the same clinic. Participants provided demographic data and answered questions about their personal and family history of herpes zoster.

“”A significantly higher proportion of cases reported having a family history of herpes zoster (39.3 percent vs. 10.5 percent),” the authors write. Individuals with herpes zoster were 4.35 times more likely to have a first-degree relative and 4.27 times more likely to have another relative with a history of the condition than individuals in the control group.”

This is important information. Since I had shingles, that means my three children may be at a higher risk of developing them. Therefore, they may be more interested in getting the shingle vaccine (Would you get the shingles vaccine?) than others who don’t have that close connection.

More information on the vaccine: Thousands could be spared pain from shingles

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