A new treatment for painful shingles could soon be on the market, providing much-needed relief for millions of older Americans who suffer from the condition.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a compound called L-BHDA which, they say, is more effective in treating the painful blisters that come with shingles, UPI reports.
“We need new options for medications with increased potency that can treat (the shingles virus), including strains that may be resistant to existing drugs,” said David Chu, one of the compound’s inventors. “L-BHDA has the potential to be more efficient.”
Shingles recurs in people who suffered from the childhood disease chicken pox. It hides in the nerves for years, often not returning until a patient is over 60. Complications can last for months or even years.
A vaccine was introduced in 2006, but it has been given only to a small percentage of sufferers due to its cost, lack of insurance company reimbursement, and short supply.
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