Shingles (Cont.)

Diagnosing Shingles

Before making a shingles diagnosis, the healthcare provider will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of shingles.
 
A typical case of shingles is easy to diagnose. The doctor might suspect shingles if:
 
  • The rash is on only one side of the body
  • The rash erupts along one of the many nerve paths, called dermatomes, that stem from the spine.
     
The doctor usually confirms a diagnosis of shingles if the person also:
 

Treatment for Shingles

The treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on several factors, including the severity of symptoms, when the shingles symptoms started, and whether shingles complications occur.
 
These treatment options may include:
 
  • Antiviral medicines and pain relievers
  • Other medicines to treat complications such as postherpetic neuralgia
  • Temporary changes in your lifestyle.
     
(Click Shingles Treatment to learn more about specific treatment for shingles, including how antivirals can help if given early enough.)
 

Shingles Cure

Just as there is no cure for chickenpox, there is no cure for shingles. There are, however, shingles medicines (known as antivirals) that can shorten the length and severity of shingles. Also, there is a shingles vaccine that can prevent shingles in the future.
 
(Click Cure for Shingles for more information about antivirals and the shingles vaccine.)
 
(Shingles Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD