Emily MacDonagh Offers Health Update on Shingles Diagnosis
Emily MacDonagh, the 36-year-old doctor married to singer Peter Andre, 53, has shared a comprehensive health update with her followers after revealing her recent diagnosis with shingles. In a video posted on Instagram last Friday, she addressed common questions from fans regarding symptoms, treatment options, when to seek medical help, and how the condition can spread.
Understanding Shingles and Its Causes
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is part of the herpes family and is typically contracted during childhood as chickenpox. Once infected, the virus remains dormant in the body but can reactivate if the immune system becomes weakened. Emily expressed gratitude to her audience, stating, 'Hi everyone, I wanted to say first of all thank you so much to everyone who watched my video about shingles. I'm really glad it was helpful for some of you and also to raise some awareness.' She added that she used the opportunity to answer insightful questions from the comments section.
Treatment and Pharmacist Access
One fan highlighted that in England, individuals over 18 can often obtain treatment quickly from a pharmacist. Emily confirmed this, replying, 'That is absolutely correct, and thank you so much for flagging it. If you're over 18 and you've got symptoms of shingles, see your pharmacist.' She explained that pharmacists can prescribe the same treatments as general practitioners, making it a convenient option for many.
Long-Term Effects and Prevention
Another comment described a persistent tenderness in the area where shingles had occurred decades earlier. Emily identified this as postherpetic neuralgia, a common long-lasting pain that follows shingles. 'So I wonder if you're describing something called postherpetic neuralgia. It's very common after you've had shingles, and it basically affects the area of the body where you had the shingles rash,' she said. She noted that symptoms can start during or after the rash and may last for weeks or months, but treatments are available to help manage the pain.
Emily also emphasized the importance of hygiene to prevent spreading the virus. 'You can pass on chicken pox from shingles to somebody who's not had chicken pox before, and that's why it's really important not to touch the area, make sure you're washing your hands, and don't share things like towels,' she advised.
Shingles in Children and Risk Factors
A fan mentioned that children can develop shingles, with their 10-year-old daughter recently diagnosed. Emily agreed, stating, 'You're absolutely right, you can get shingles at any age.' However, she urged seeking urgent medical attention from a GP or calling 111 for anyone under 18 suspected of having the condition.
Stress was highlighted as a trigger by another commenter, who shared their experience at age 48. Emily explained that while anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk, the likelihood and severity increase with age due to natural decreases in immunity. 'It can strike when the immune system is a bit vulnerable, and that might be after you've had an illness, something like the flu for example, or in periods of stress or trauma,' she added.
Vaccination and Recovery Update
Regarding the chickenpox vaccine, a fan inquired if it offers protection against shingles. Emily clarified, 'The vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce your risk of shingles, so it is still possible but it's rare to get shingles after the vaccine. But if you do get it, the chances are the symptoms will be much milder.'
Concluding her video, Emily shared a positive health update, saying, 'Thank you so much again to everyone who sent in questions, I hope that was helpful, and lots of you had asked how I'm feeling, and I'm definitely feeling better.' She revealed that after a week-long treatment, her symptoms have improved significantly, though some minor pain remains.
Background on Emily's Diagnosis
This update follows Emily's initial revelation about her shingles diagnosis last Friday, where she shared a candid video discussing her painful symptoms. She described noticing odd sensations under her arm before a rash appeared on her back. 'It's definitely not something I expected to be dealing with, but hopefully sharing this does raise some awareness,' she said at the time. Fans flooded her with well-wishes, expressing hopes for a speedy recovery and gratitude for the informative content.
