Aussie stars expose the painful reality of shingles this Shingles Awareness Week

Journalist Shelly Horton, AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico and news presenter Deborah Knight share their personal experience of shingles during Shingles Awareness Week (24 February – 2 March 2025).

It is estimated that, by the age of 40, more than 97% of Australians carry the inactive virus (varicella zoster virus) that causes shingles from a previous chickenpox infection.^1-3

Research commissioned by GSK Australia* reveals over a quarter (26 per cent) of Australians aged 50-79 do not recall previously having chickenpox and are at risk of developing shingles without being aware of this risk.4 It also showed that almost a quarter (24 pesr cent) of Australians don’t believe or understand that they can develop shingles if they’ve had chickenpox.⁴

The risk of developing shingles increases with age.⁵ As the immune system naturally weakens, and this can allow the usually inactive virus that causes shingles to reactivate.⁶ If Australians have a weakened immune system due to illness, treatments or medications, you may also be at increased risk.^1,2,5

Shingles Awareness Week aims to increase understanding of the impact of shingles and address common misconceptions surrounding shingles. Journalist Shelly Horton and AFL-legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico join news presenter Deborah Knight as Shingles Awareness Week ambassadors, having experienced first-hand the pain and impact of shingles.

“I experienced shingles during a very stressful time of my life. A huge spread of tiny blisters appeared on my right inner thigh, which left me in excruciating pain, and I felt completely debilitated,” shared Shelly Horton, who is an advocate for talking about taboo health topics.

“Since my experience, many people close to me have been affected by this condition. My mum had shingles, which caused a rash across her torso. It was so painful she couldn’t even drive or sit on the couch to watch TV. She almost went to hospital because she thought it was kidney stones.

“I now know that shingles is common in people 50 and over. One of mum’s friends got shingles in her eye, which could have affected her sight. My father-in-law also had shingles at my wedding in Mexico, with a rash across his back,” recalled Ms Horton. “He was in a lot of pain and afraid of the rash being aggravated, especially during our dance. While everyone else continued celebrating, he became bed bound in the hotel room.”

Recognised as one of Hawthorn Football Club’s most prominent players, Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, has also experienced the painful and debilitating impact of shingles, and has cared for his partner during her shingles diagnosis.

“Compared to the pain of many of my sporting injuries, shingles was relentless. It put me out of action for nine days,” said Dipper. “I had a large, itchy, red rash suddenly appear on the left side of my body. It was so uncomfortable, I slept on a mattress in the lounge room with the air conditioning running to try and find some relief. It was horrible to experience personally, and I know some of my loved ones, like my partner and my mum, have also experienced the pain and discomfort of shingles.”

Monika Boogs, Chief Executive Officer, Painaustralia, says that the pain of shingles is often described by people as some the worst they have ever experienced.

“Shingles is often more than just a rash. The pain from shingles can disrupt sleep, mood, work and daily activities and impact quality of life. For some people, it can cause long-term issues with eyesight or chronic nerve pain leading to long-term discomfort,” said Ms Boogs.

Leading expert, Professor Tony Cunningham, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (WIMR) and Vaccine Theme Leader at Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (SydneyID), The University of Sydney, suggests that Australians aged 50 and over should not underestimate their shingles risk even if they don’t recall having had chickenpox.

  “If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in your body. Almost all Australians have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having it or were asymptomatic, and so are at risk of shingles as they carry the inactive virus. As you get older, there is a decline in your immune system that can leave you susceptible to the reactivation of this virus, which causes shingles,” said Professor Cunningham.

“Shingles Awareness Week is an important reminder to understand the symptoms and your risk, especially if you are aged 50 and over. Speak to your doctor to understand your risk of shingles and encourage loved ones who are older to do the same.”

To help reduce the impact on people’s lives and the disruption to everyday activities that shingles can cause, Australians aged 50 years and over should learn more about the signs, symptoms and risk factors for shingles. For more information about shingles, speak to a healthcare professional and visit knowshingles.com.au

On behalf of GSK Australia, Ipsos Healthcare conducted an online survey among 600 Australian-based consumer participants (aged 50-79 years old from the general population) who chose to take part in the survey between 17 July and 1 August 2024. Participants were all screened to match national proportions based on region, gender and working situation. Majority of respondents had one or more comorbidities, while one in three did not. The sample is not nationally representative, only indicative.

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