Emily MacDonagh, wife of pop star Peter Andre, has updated her followers about her health following her shingles diagnosis. The 36-year-old doctor took to Instagram to address some of the most frequently asked questions from her previous video. Her discussion covered symptoms, treatment options, when to seek medical advice, and how the virus can be transmitted.

Shingles, a condition triggered by the varicella zoster virus, belongs to the same family as herpes. This virus is typically contracted during childhood, often manifesting as chickenpox. While it remains dormant in the body after the initial infection, it can reactivate if the immune system becomes temporarily compromised.

In a video shared with her audience, Emily expressed her gratitude: “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.”

Once a person is infected, the virus stays dormant in the body but can, if the immune system is temporarily weakened, reactivate.

Sharing a video with her followers, she said: ‘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. 

‘There was some really good questions in the comments, so I thought I’d use this as an opportunity to answer some of them.’ 

Peter Andre’s wife Emily MacDonagh has shared a health update with fans after revealing she had been diagnosed with shingles

The first comment read: ‘Worth mentioning that you can get treatment quickly from a pharmacist in England in most cases.’ 

Responding to the comment, Emily replied: ‘That is absolutely correct, and thank you so much for flagging it. If you’re over 18 and you’ve got symptoms of shingles, see your pharmacist, 

She continued: ‘Because if they think treatments needed, they can prescribe the same treatment that your GP would also use.’ 

Another comment read: ‘It’s funny the deep feeling of shingles stays for so long once it heals – I had it at 17 and now in my 60s and somehow I still feel tender sometimes in that area. The body really does remember. Also, I guess very important to wash hands if you have been touching it. 

They continued: ‘I remember I didn’t know what it was back then and I kept touching it! It wasn’t diagnosed for a while I thought I had backne!’ 

Responding to the comment, Emily said: ‘So I wonder if you’re describing something called postherpetic neuralgia. It’s very common after you’ve had shingles, and it basically affects the area of the body where you had the shingles rash. 

‘So postherpetic neuralgia is a long-lasting pain, it usually gets better gradually, and there are treatments that can help. 

‘The symptoms of it usually start while you have the shingles rash or soon after it gets better, but in some rare cases, it can actually start weeks or months after the shingles rash has gone. 

The doctor, 36, who is married to singer Peter Andre , 53, took to Instagram on Friday to answer some of the most common questions from her previous video – including symptoms, treatment, when to seek help and how the condition can spread

Concluding her video, she also shared a health update with followers, saying she is feeling much better after undergoing a week-long treatment 

‘You also made a really good point about washing hands, now you can pass on chicken pox from shingles to somebody who’s not had chicken pox before and that’s why it’s really important not to touch the area, make sure you’re washing your hands, and don’t share things like towels etc.’ 

Another comment read: ‘Also children can still get shingles my daughter was recently diagnosed too and she’s only 10.’ 

Responding, 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.’ 

Another comment read: ‘It was stress that bought mine on at 48. Never felt anything like it. Straight across the bottom of my back, not just one side. First the past year if I ever feel a little tired or rundown with a cold I get terrified it’s coming back. 

They continued: ‘I can feel where it was. Take care, slow down, and take care of you for a bit. The stress of your daughter being ill wouldn’t have helped.’ 

Feeling grateful for the comment, Emily replied: ‘Thank you so much for your lovely comment. So in terms of when you’re most likely to get shingles, anybody who’s had chicken pox is at risk. 

‘But 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.’

Another comment read: ‘If the babies that have the chicken pox vaccine are they still going to get shingles I wonder. Hopefully a double protection.’ 

It comes after Emily revealed she has shingles as she shared her painful symptoms with fans on social media 

The doctor shared a candid video last Friday where she discussed her painful symptoms

Emily replied: ‘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.’ 

Concluding her video, she shared a health update with followers, saying: ‘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, so thank you, everyone, for your kind messages and concern.’ 

It comes after Emily revealed she has shingles as she shared her painful symptoms with fans on social media.

The doctor shared a candid video last Friday where she discussed her painful symptoms.

Emily penned alongside health advice in her post: ‘A little health update, this week I was unexpectedly diagnosed with shingles. So I thought I’d do a quick video to explain what it is, in the hope it helps raise awareness for anyone who might not be familiar.’

Wearing a pink woollen jumper, she then said in her video: ‘I noticed a pain and just odd sensations under my arm here and then a couple of days later the rash appeared on my back on one side.’

She continued: ‘It’s definitely not something I expected to be dealing with, but hopefully sharing this does raise some awareness.’

The busy mum signed off her clip: ‘As for me, I’m kind of hoping to start feeling better soon and back to myself. 

‘I hope that as helpful, stay well everyone.’ 

Emily was flooded with well wishes from fans, who said: ‘Wishing you a very speedy recovery Emily and thankyou for the info on shingles.’

‘Hope you get well soon Doc.’

‘Thank you for sharing and get well soon.’ 

‘Get well soon Emily. I have had this 3 times in the last year it’s painful.’