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Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus as chickenpox. If you have already had chickenpox, the virus remains in your body and can reactivate later, causing shingles. The rash usually appears as a red band on one side of the body.
Unlike chickenpox, it is possible to get shingles more than once. With each recurrence, the rash usually appears in a different location.
The most important symptom of shingles is severe pain that can feel like a burning sensation or like an electric shock. This pain can be persistent and affect your daily activities, making even simple tasks unbearable.
Shortly after the pain begins, a rash often appears, turning into a bright, chicken-like rash. A few days before the rash appears, you may experience worrying symptoms, including a severe headache and a rash or swelling in the area where the rash will develop. You may also feel generally unwell, with fatigue and a high fever that makes you feel weak. Risk factors
Shingles can develop at any age, although your risk is higher if you are:
age 50 or older;
have a weakened immune system;
have ever had chickenpox.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three people will get shingles at some point in their lives. Risk factors include:
Cancer: People who have cancer or have recently had cancer are at higher risk of developing shingles. They may need to be hospitalized if severe complications arise. The risk is highest in the years following a cancer diagnosis, especially in people with blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma.
HIV: People with HIV can develop shingles. This virus weakens the immune system, making it harder for it to fight off infections. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of shingles. This is because diabetes affects the body’s production of insulin, which is important for controlling blood sugar levels. Immunosuppressive medications: Medications that suppress the immune system, such as steroids for autoimmune diseases, can increase the risk of shingles. This applies to people receiving chemotherapy or radiation, as well as those who have recently had an organ or bone marrow transplant. Prevention
Getting vaccinated can help prevent the development of severe shingles. The recombinant shingles vaccine helps prevent the disease and also protects against postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication of shingles. Shingles causes persistent neurogenic pain in the area where the rash occurred. This pain can persist for months or even years after the rash has healed and can be severe.
Therefore, it is recommended that adults aged 50 and older get vaccinated against shingles. It is important to get vaccinated even if you have already had shingles to prevent a recurrence.
