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Shingles: Symptoms, contagiousness, and treatment
Shingles is the result of the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles usually develops later in life but is also contagious and is emely painful. Read here about how the disease affects some people and not others, symptoms, and potential complications. Find out also about treatments and how to get vaccinated.
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There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in the United States, with 1 in 3 people developing shingles during their lifetime
It is not possible to have shingles if you have never been exposed to chickenpox or the varicella virus that causes it
Once exposed, the virus can lay dormant for years Most adults with the dormant virus never experience an outbreak of shingles or any further problems
Shingles is most common in people over the age of 50 years However, the virus may reappear in people of all ages who have previously had chickenpox
Here are some key points about shingles More detail and supporting information is in the main article
This can be a constant dull, burning, or gnawing pain, or sharp, stabbing pain that comes and goes
There may also be a blistering skin rashThis usually appears in one or more distinct bands, called dermatomes It may also appear on the face in a band, or break out on a quarter of the faceThese dermatomes correspond to a single sensory nerve This is why infection causes isolated skin lesions, rather than a body-wide rash, and nerve pain
In some cases, there is a rash but no pain, or no visible rash but a band of pain
Rarely, shingles can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, or encephalitis, or death This usually happens in people who have an impaired immune system
Most people do not experience any complications with shingles, but there is the potential for the following long-lasting effects:
However, the varicella-zoster virus can be spread from a person with shingles at the active stage to someone who has never had chickenpox
Shingles is not spread through coughing or sneezing, but through direct contact with fluid from the blisters Before the blisters develop and after the crusts form, the person is not contagious
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox The risk of spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered
In some cases, antiviral medicine may be prescribed to help stop the virus multiplying, and to reduce severity and duration
Immunization with the varicella vaccine chickenpox vaccine is now recommended and routine in the US It is a two-dose vaccine, given once between the age of 12 and 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends the Zostavax vaccine for people aged 60 years and above This age group has the highest risk of getting shingles and of experiencing a complication
Some people should not have the shingles vaccine, or they should discuss it first with their physician
Shingles is caused by the same virus that is responsible for chickenpox After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains in the body It lies dormant in the central nervous system CNS
The varicella-zoster virus belongs to a group of viruses called herpes viruses This is why shingles is also known as herpes zoster
All herpes viruses can hide in the nervous system, where they can remain almost indefinitely
Under the right conditions, the herpes zoster virus can reactivate, or wake up from hibernation, and travel down nerve fibers to cause a new active infection
In most cases, it is not clear why the varicella-zoster virus begins multiplying to cause shingles
One suggestion is that shingles occurs when something weakens the immune system, prompting the virus to reactivate
Shingles typically resolves within 2 to 4 weeks, and most young, healthy individuals make a full recovery
Approximately 1-4 percent of people who develop shingles require hospitalization for complications, and 30 percent of those have impaired immune systems
It is estimated that there are about 96 deaths per year directly related to the varicella-zoster virus Most which occur in older adults and those who are immunocompromised
We picked linked items based on the quality of products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline UK and our partners may receive a portion of revenues if you make a purchase using a links above
Article last updated by Yvette Brazier on Wed 29 November 2017Visit our Shingles category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on ShinglesAll references are available in the References tab
Dworkin, R H, Johnson, R W, Breuer, J, Gnann, J W, Levin, M J, Backonja, M, Whitley RJ 2007, January Recommendations for the management of herpes zoster [Abstract] The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1;44 Suppl 1:S1-26 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/17143845
Locksley, R M, Flournoy, N, Sullivan, K M, & Meyers, J D 1985, December Infection with varicella-zoster virus after marrow transplantation [Abstract] The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1526:1172-81 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/3905982
Sanford, M, & Keating, G M 2010, February Zoster vaccine Zostavax: a review of its use in preventing herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults [Abstract] Drugs & Aging 1;272:159-76 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/20104941
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLANichols, Hannah What is shingles? Medical News Today MediLexicon, Intl, 29 Nov 2017 Web5 Jul 2019 <https://wwwmedicalnewstodaycom/articles/154912php>
© 2004-2019 All rights reserved MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional
Timez Doctor
Shingles is the result of the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles usually develops later in life but is also contagious and is emely painful. Read here about how the disease affects some people and not others, symptoms, and potential complications. Find out also about treatments and how to get vaccinated.
For full functionality, it is necessary to enable JavaScript Here are instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser
Healthline Media, Inc would like to process and share personal data eg, mobile ad id and data about your use of our site eg, content interests with our third party partners see a current list using cookies and similar automatic collection tools in order to a personalize content and/or offers on our site or other sites, b communicate with you upon request, and/or c for additional reasons upon notice and, when applicable, with your consent
Healthline Media, Inc is based in and operates this site from the United States Any data you provide will be primarily stored and processed in the United States, pursuant to the laws of the United States, which may provide lesser privacy protections than European Economic Area countries
By clicking accept below, you acknowledge and grant your consent for these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form Learn more in our Privacy Policy
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, personalize content and offers, show targeted ads, analyze traffic, and better understand you We may share your information with third-party partners for marketing purposes To learn more and make choices about data use, visit our Advertising Policy and Privacy Policy By clicking Accept and Continue below, 1 you consent to these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form, and 2 you consent to allow your data to be transferred, processed, and stored in the United States
To proceed, simply complete the form below, and a link to the article will be sent by email on your behalf Note: Please dont include any URLs in your comments, as they will be removed upon submission
We do not store details you enter into this form Please see our privacy policy for more information
There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in the United States, with 1 in 3 people developing shingles during their lifetime
It is not possible to have shingles if you have never been exposed to chickenpox or the varicella virus that causes it
Once exposed, the virus can lay dormant for years Most adults with the dormant virus never experience an outbreak of shingles or any further problems
Shingles is most common in people over the age of 50 years However, the virus may reappear in people of all ages who have previously had chickenpox
Here are some key points about shingles More detail and supporting information is in the main article
This can be a constant dull, burning, or gnawing pain, or sharp, stabbing pain that comes and goes
There may also be a blistering skin rashThis usually appears in one or more distinct bands, called dermatomes It may also appear on the face in a band, or break out on a quarter of the faceThese dermatomes correspond to a single sensory nerve This is why infection causes isolated skin lesions, rather than a body-wide rash, and nerve pain
In some cases, there is a rash but no pain, or no visible rash but a band of pain
Rarely, shingles can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, or encephalitis, or death This usually happens in people who have an impaired immune system
Most people do not experience any complications with shingles, but there is the potential for the following long-lasting effects:
However, the varicella-zoster virus can be spread from a person with shingles at the active stage to someone who has never had chickenpox
Shingles is not spread through coughing or sneezing, but through direct contact with fluid from the blisters Before the blisters develop and after the crusts form, the person is not contagious
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox The risk of spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered
In some cases, antiviral medicine may be prescribed to help stop the virus multiplying, and to reduce severity and duration
Immunization with the varicella vaccine chickenpox vaccine is now recommended and routine in the US It is a two-dose vaccine, given once between the age of 12 and 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends the Zostavax vaccine for people aged 60 years and above This age group has the highest risk of getting shingles and of experiencing a complication
Some people should not have the shingles vaccine, or they should discuss it first with their physician
Shingles is caused by the same virus that is responsible for chickenpox After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains in the body It lies dormant in the central nervous system CNS
The varicella-zoster virus belongs to a group of viruses called herpes viruses This is why shingles is also known as herpes zoster
All herpes viruses can hide in the nervous system, where they can remain almost indefinitely
Under the right conditions, the herpes zoster virus can reactivate, or wake up from hibernation, and travel down nerve fibers to cause a new active infection
In most cases, it is not clear why the varicella-zoster virus begins multiplying to cause shingles
One suggestion is that shingles occurs when something weakens the immune system, prompting the virus to reactivate
Shingles typically resolves within 2 to 4 weeks, and most young, healthy individuals make a full recovery
Approximately 1-4 percent of people who develop shingles require hospitalization for complications, and 30 percent of those have impaired immune systems
It is estimated that there are about 96 deaths per year directly related to the varicella-zoster virus Most which occur in older adults and those who are immunocompromised
We picked linked items based on the quality of products, and list the pros and cons of each to help you determine which will work best for you We partner with some of the companies that sell these products, which means Healthline UK and our partners may receive a portion of revenues if you make a purchase using a links above
Article last updated by Yvette Brazier on Wed 29 November 2017Visit our Shingles category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on ShinglesAll references are available in the References tab
Dworkin, R H, Johnson, R W, Breuer, J, Gnann, J W, Levin, M J, Backonja, M, Whitley RJ 2007, January Recommendations for the management of herpes zoster [Abstract] The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1;44 Suppl 1:S1-26 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/17143845
Locksley, R M, Flournoy, N, Sullivan, K M, & Meyers, J D 1985, December Infection with varicella-zoster virus after marrow transplantation [Abstract] The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1526:1172-81 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/3905982
Sanford, M, & Keating, G M 2010, February Zoster vaccine Zostavax: a review of its use in preventing herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults [Abstract] Drugs & Aging 1;272:159-76 Retrieved from http://wwwncbinlmnihgov/pubmed/20104941
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLANichols, Hannah What is shingles? Medical News Today MediLexicon, Intl, 29 Nov 2017 Web5 Jul 2019 <https://wwwmedicalnewstodaycom/articles/154912php>
© 2004-2019 All rights reserved MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional
Timez Doctor
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps

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