MAYO CLINIC – Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.

Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life.

Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.

Shingles isn’t life-threatening. But it can be very painful.

Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment may shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared … SOURCE. 

MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK – Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common condition in which the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus) reactivates after years of lying dormant in your body. As the virus reactivates, it causes pain and tingling and eventually a rash of short-lived blisters.

“Shingles normally isn’t a serious condition, but in some people the rash can cause an eye infection,” explains Jeffery Wheeler, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System family physician.

“Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles, while early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications.” One complication is called postherpetic neuralgia, which can cause the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or years.

When identified early, shingles can be treated with prescription medications that help shorten the infection and reduce the risk of complications. Dr. Wheeler says signs and symptoms of shingles may include:

• A feeling of pain, burning, tingling, itching, numbness or extreme sensitivity in a limited area of your body
• A red rash with fluid-filled blisters that begins a few days after the pain and lasts two to three weeks before scabbing over and healing
• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• General feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise)

The shingles rash commonly occurs on one side of the trunk of your body. It often appears as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of your back around one side of your chest to your breastbone, following the path of the nerve where the virus has been dormant. However, the rash can occur around one eye or on your neck or face.

A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn’t immune to chickenpox. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, the person will develop chickenpox, however, not shingles. Chickenpox can be dangerous for some groups of people. Until your shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious and should avoid physical contact with:

• Anyone who has a weak immune system
• Newborns
• Pregnant women

“See your health care provider as soon as you notice symptoms of shingles. Prompt intervention can curtail the infection and possibly decrease your chances of complications,” adds Dr. Wheeler. SOURCE. 

What are the advantages of getting the shingles vaccine?

CLEVELAND CLINIC – The shingles vaccine reduces your risk of getting shingles.

Shingles causes a painful rash that usually develops on one side of your body or face. Some people describe the pain as an intense burning or shooting sensation.

What side effects can the shingles vaccine cause?

The shingles vaccine helps your body’s immune system build up a solid defense against shingles, so you may experience temporary side effects after getting the shots. These side effects may include:

• Pain or soreness at the injection site.
• Redness or swelling at the injection site.
• Tiredness (fatigue).
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Abdominal pain.
• Nausea.

Severe reactions to the shingles vaccine are extremely rare … READ MORE.