A sharp, intense pain that felt like a lightning strike hit Francine Jones one day while she was going about her usual routine. She described the sensation as something that would come every ten minutes or so, and it was unlike anything she had ever felt before. The discomfort began in May with a strange pricking feeling under her bra.
Soon after, large blisters appeared in a band across her stomach and back. The blisters burned so intensely that even a cold flannel would make her skin feel like it was on fire. The itching was so severe that she could barely sleep for more than a few hours at a time.
Jones explained how her illness progressed through different stages, though there is no set pattern for how shingles develops. She even thought she might be having a heart attack one night due to the constant pain. The pain was so intense that she could not walk properly and found it hard to breathe deeply.
Jones is a 39-year-old woman from Hereford, and that age is not typically associated with shingles. Yet her experience is not as rare as one might think. Her case reflects a concerning trend, with research showing that shingles cases are rising among people aged 30 to 49.
Between the years 1998 and 2017, cases in this age group more than doubled. Although older people still had more cases overall, the increase among younger adults was steeper. After being diagnosed by a pharmacist, Jones received antiviral medication for seven days.
She was also prescribed Gabapentin to manage the nerve pain, which she is still taking. Jones never expected to get shingles at her age. A recent U.S. study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that women aged 30 to 39 with conditions like asthma, diabetes, depression, or stress were at higher risk than those in their 50s who were otherwise healthy.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. This virus usually lies dormant in nerve cells after a person has had chickenpox, often in childhood. When immunity weakens, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.
The first sign is usually pain or tingling in one area of the skin, often accompanied by headaches and general discomfort. This is typically followed by blisters that form on the skin. According to health records, around one in four people will get shingles at some point in their lives.
The risk increases with age, which is why vaccines are offered to those over 65 in the UK and over 50 in the US. In the UK, shingles cases are currently above average for the past five years. One woman in a Facebook group said she had experienced shingles eight times in two years at the age of 38.
Another woman reported her first case at 36. Most of the voices in these groups are from women. Some experts once believed that people who had not had chickenpox were less likely to get shingles.
However, a 2019 study showed that this idea was incorrect. The study found that the rate of shingles in 30-year-olds stayed consistent even as chickenpox cases dropped. It is now believed that immunity builds naturally, regardless of exposure to chickenpox.
Scientists now think that the virus can sometimes reactivate without symptoms and still provide immune benefits. Even a small drop in immunity can allow the virus to become active again. One expert believes that overall health is declining, which may be contributing to more cases of shingles.
Why are millennial women especially at risk? Experts believe that women in this age group may have more stress and health challenges. They often face many responsibilities, including careers, family care, and managing homes.
This pressure may affect their immune system and overall health. One woman, now 51, believes stress played a role in her three cases of shingles. She first had shingles when she was 43 and noticed a rash the size of a penny under her arm.
Her doctor initially thought it was heat rash and gave her cream. She had lasting nerve pain for years after the first outbreak. A second case came in 2022, while she was working a demanding job and studying.
The third outbreak happened in 2023 after a series of illnesses, including laryngitis and a bout with Covid. Early diagnosis can be difficult because shingles sometimes appears without a rash, especially in younger people. This is important because antiviral treatments are most effective if started within 72 hours of symptoms.
Doctors often miss early signs, especially in younger patients. Antiviral medications are taken for about a week to treat the infection. After treatment, redness and irritation may remain for some time.
Younger patients are often immunocompromised, which is why the shingles vaccine is now available for people aged 18 and over who have a severely weakened immune system or take immunosuppressant medication. The growing use of immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune conditions may also be a contributing factor. Shingles usually appears on the torso, but it can occur anywhere, including the face.
If it occurs near the eye, it can lead to serious complications like blindness. A woman from north Wales had corneal scarring after her shingles was misdiagnosed for months. She began feeling pain near her ear and jaw stiffness at age 38.
Her eye became swollen, and Hayley thought it was a salivary gland infection. A week later, a rash appeared under her eyebrow and her eye felt sore. The rash went down, but it was misdiagnosed as allergic conjunctivitis.
She couldn’t watch TV or read because of the pain. An optician eventually referred her to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with shingles nearly two months later. She received antivirals and steroids to treat the condition.
Experts support offering shingles vaccines earlier, even to younger adults. They say that shingles is extremely painful and can leave lasting scars. Jones admitted she was taking a rest day because her pain had returned.
She tries to listen more carefully to her body and avoid pushing herself too hard.
IMAGE: JerzyGórecki / Pixabay
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