What Is Shingles?
Shingles (also known as
herpes zoster) is a condition caused by reinfection with the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes
chickenpox. Infection with this virus tends to occur during different decades of a person's life.
This condition is not contagious. Therefore, a person who comes in contact with an infected person will not develop shingles. However, contact with a person with shingles can cause chickenpox in someone who has never had chickenpox or the
chickenpox vaccine.
(Click Causes of Shingles to learn more about the varicella-zoster virus and how it reactivates to cause this condition.)
Risk Factors for Shingles
Shingles is most common in people over age 50, but if you have had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, you are at risk for developing it. The disease is also more common in people with weakened immune systems from
HIV infection or
AIDS, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations (such as a kidney transplant or stem cell transplant), and stress.
The symptoms a person experiences will vary. For some people, symptoms can be mild; for others, especially in older adults, symptoms can be debilitating. There is no way to predict who will develop
symptoms of shingles, how severe they will be, or whether a person will develop complications as a result.
(Click Shingles Symptoms to learn more about specific symptoms, including early symptoms.)
Before making a diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms.
A typical case of shingles is easy to diagnose. Your healthcare provider might suspect it if the rash:
- Is on only one side of the body
- Erupts along one of the many nerve paths, called dermatomes, that stem from the spine.
Your healthcare provider can often confirm the diagnosis if you also:
The treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on several factors, including the severity of symptoms, when they started, and whether 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, including how antivirals can help if given early enough.)
Just as there is no cure for chickenpox, there is no cure for shingles. There are, however, medicines (known as antivirals) that can shorten the length and severity of the disease. Also, there is a vaccine that can prevent it in the future.
Complications of Shingles
For the majority of healthy individuals, shingles runs its course without leading to any complications. Usually the lesions heal, the pain subsides within three to five weeks, and, for most people, the blisters leave no scars.
While this is the normal course for most people, complications can occur, such as:
What If I Have Shingles During Pregnancy?
Shingles during pregnancy is rare, but it is possible for a pregnant woman to develop the condition. Treatment during pregnancy is similar to treatment for women who are not pregnant.
