Emily MacDonagh Shares Health Update After Shingles Diagnosis
Emily MacDonagh, the wife of singer Peter Andre, recently shared a health update with her followers after being diagnosed with shingles. The 36-year-old doctor took to Instagram to address common questions about the condition, including symptoms, treatment, and when to seek help.
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is part of the herpes family. Most people contract this virus as children, where it causes chickenpox. Once infected, the virus remains dormant in the body but can reactivate if the immune system is weakened.
In a video posted on Friday, Emily explained: “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 continued by answering several frequently asked questions from her previous video. One user mentioned that treatment for shingles can often be obtained quickly from a pharmacist in England. Emily confirmed this, stating: “If you’re over 18 and you’ve got symptoms of shingles, see your pharmacist. Because if they think treatments needed, they can prescribe the same treatment that your GP would also use.”
Another comment highlighted the lingering effects of shingles, with one person mentioning that even after healing, they still feel tender in the affected area. Emily responded by explaining that this could be postherpetic neuralgia, a common long-lasting pain following shingles. She added: “It’s very common after you’ve had shingles, and it basically affects the area of the body where you had the shingles rash.”
Emily also addressed concerns about the spread of the virus. She emphasized the importance of washing hands and avoiding sharing items like towels, as the virus can be passed on to those who haven’t had chickenpox before.
Another user shared their experience of their daughter being diagnosed with shingles at just 10 years old. Emily replied: “You’re absolutely right, you can get shingles at any age, however, you should see your GP urgently or call 111 if you suspect somebody under the age of 18 has shingles.”
A comment from someone who experienced shingles due to stress led Emily to explain that the condition can occur when the immune system is weakened. She said: “The likelihood and severity increases with age, basically as your immunity kind of naturally decreases. 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.”
One user asked whether children who have received the chickenpox vaccine are still at risk of shingles. Emily responded: “So that’s a very good question, 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.”
Emily concluded her Q&A by sharing a health update with her followers. She said: “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. I had some treatment myself, and that was for a week, and it’s worked really well, I’ve still got a little bit of pain left, but feeling much much better.”
She added: “I hope that was helpful, stay well everyone.” Her post received an outpouring of support from fans, with many wishing her a speedy recovery and thanking her for raising awareness about shingles.
Emily’s openness about her health journey has not only helped educate her followers but also encouraged others to seek medical advice if they experience similar symptoms. Her message highlights the importance of understanding and managing shingles, especially as the condition can affect people of all ages.
