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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Shingles In Ear. Had An Automobile Accident. Have Weak Immunity. Is It Related?

I got shingles in my right ear one month after a car accident. I was hit from behind at high speed and then my
car hit the cement highway divider which deployed the airbag. Is there a connection to the airbag deployment and
the stress and injuries from the accident that could have caused the shingles outbreak? The insurance company
said it is not likely - I strongly disagree since I am a healthy 51 year old with no past shingles outbreaks. I did have chicken pox as a child. I think the stress of the accident and weakened immune system from my injuries were the cause of the shingles outbreak. Any input or opinions would be welcome. Thank you doctor!
Fri, 7 Jun 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,
Shingles occurs because of past history of chicken pox.
Chicken pox virus resides in the nerve roots and get reactivated in later years of age.How the virus gets reactivated is not known but there are few conditions like HIV/ AIDS which results in very low immunity in the person which ultimately causes reactivation of dormant chicken virus.
It is highly unlikely that the car accident has resulted in shingles attack.
Thanks
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Have Shingles In Ear. Had An Automobile Accident. Have Weak Immunity. Is It Related?

Hello, Shingles occurs because of past history of chicken pox. Chicken pox virus resides in the nerve roots and get reactivated in later years of age.How the virus gets reactivated is not known but there are few conditions like HIV/ AIDS which results in very low immunity in the person which ultimately causes reactivation of dormant chicken virus. It is highly unlikely that the car accident has resulted in shingles attack. Thanks