AUSTRALIAN personalities including AFL-legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico are sharing their experiences with shingles to encourage Australians aged 50 years and over to be aware of their risk of the disease during Shingles Awareness Week, which ends on March 2.

The awareness week aims to increase understanding of the impact of shingles and address common misconceptions surrounding shingles.

Shingles can present in a number of ways and can be a painful and potentially debilitating condition.

It is a viral infection that is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

The risk of developing shingles increases with age as the immune system naturally weakens, and this can allow the usually inactive virus that causes shingles to reactivate.

Australians who have a weakened immune system due to illness, treatments or medications may also be at increased risk.

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.”

Centre for Virus Research director and the University of Sydney’s Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute vaccine theme leader Professor Tony Cunningham said Australians aged 50 and over should not underestimate their shingles risk even if they did not recall having had chickenpox.

“If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in your body,’’ he said.

“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.

For more information about shingles, speak to a healthcare professional and visit knowshingles.com.au