As the number of people treated for shingles increased, their medical bills also jumped 12 percent over the past five years. Those in their 60s accounted for the largest share, with 24 percent.

Shingles is caused by the re-activation of the chickenpox-shelf virus that was latent in the body. It develops a painful rash on one side of the face or body. Before the rash appears, people often have pain, itching, or tingling in the area where it will develop.

On Thursday, the National Health Insurance Service announced the treatment status of shingles (B02) from 2017 to 2021 based on data. According to the NHIS report, the number of shingles patients totaled 722,257 in 2021, up 2.4 percent from 705,661 in 2017, recording an annual increase rate of 0.6 percent on average.

In 2021, 64.8 percent of shingles patients were 50 or older.

Those in their 60s totaled 172,144, accounting for 23.8 percent of the total, followed by 50s, with 161,518 (22.4 percent), and 40s, with 114,682 (15.9 percent). Korea had 1,405 shingles patients per 100,000 people.

Female patients outnumbered males by totaling 440,399, accounting for 61 percent, compared to 281,858 male patients. Sixty-something people accounted for the largest shares in men and women, followed by 50s and 40s.

Medical bills to treat shingles increased 11.9 percent, from 148.4 billion won to 166.1 billion won over the period, marking an annual average growth rate of 2.9 percent.

Per capita medical bills climbed 9.4 percent from 210,000 won to 230,000 won. In 2021, patients 80 and older paid the largest medical bill, with 381,000 won, followed by 282,000 won by the 70s, 245,000 won by the 60s, and 213,000 won by the 50s.

“The virus that remained in the body of a person who had chickenpox as a child causes this disease,” said Professor Kang Yeon-seung of the Anesthesiology Department at the NHIS Ilsan Hospital, explaining why there are more patients 60s and older. “Shingles are more common in patients who are weak, have less resistance to chronic diseases, or are extremely tired. In particular, older patients with weakened immunity are more vulnerable to neuralgia after shingles.”

As to why women far outnumber men, Professor Kang said, “We have yet to know the reason.”