Shingles are a common, painful rash caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Usually, the rash appears in a single, wide band on one side of the torso or face. This can be localized pain, itching, numbness or tingling, sensitivity to touch, and burning. Blisters typically form in the affected area and scab over in 7 to 10 days.
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What are Shingles
Shingles is a skin condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, more commonly known as the chickenpox virus. People usually get this after recovering from chickenpox. It can appear as a single stripe of blisters on one side of the body or face, often around the waistline or ribcage. The blisters are often painful and can last for up to a month.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus lies dormant in our nerves until it is reactivated due to decreased immunity caused by age or stress. The appearance of the shingles rash varies depending on the individual, but it usually appears as red blotches, blisters, and bumps that can cause pain, itching, and burning. Generally, this will heal on its own within a few weeks but if left untreated can cause serious complications.
Symptoms
Shingles symptoms often impact a limited area on one side of your body. Among these signs are:
Pain, tingling, or burning
Touch sensitivity
A red rash appears a few days after the discomfort has subsided.
Blisters that rupture and crust over with fluid
Itching
Some people also report:
Fever
Headache
Light sensitivity
Fatigue
Causes
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing this. The virus penetrates your nervous system after you recover from chickenpox and remains dormant for years.
The virus can reactivate and move through nerve connections to your skin, causing shingles. However, not everyone who has chickenpox develops this.
The cause of shingles is unknown. It might be linked to a decline in immunity to illnesses as people age. This is more frequent in older persons and those with compromised immune systems.
Prevention to Shingles
Shingle is a virus that infects the nervous system, causing a painful rash. The virus responsible for shingles is the same one that causes chickenpox. After a person has chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in the nerve roots. Years later, it might reactivate as shingles.
As a person begins to age, their risk of developing shingles greatly increases. However, there are many things that they can do to greatly reduce that risk. One of the best things that a person can do is to get the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is very effective in preventing the virus that causes this from taking hold in a person’s body.
How does anyone get Shingles?
Shingle is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can stay dormant in the body for years and at some point, it can reactivate as this. Consequently, those who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles.
Shingles is a viral infection that, while rare, can cause serious problems for the people it does affect. The virus lies dormant in the body after a person has had chickenpox and can later reactivate to cause this. Shingles mostly affect adults over the age of 50, but they can happen to people of any age. The virus is spread through contact with the open sores of an infected person.
Conclusion
When someone has shingles—also known as herpes zoster—it means they’ve been infected by the varicella-zoster virus. This virus is the same one responsible for chicken pox, and when it remains dormant in the body, it can be activated years or even decades later to cause this. Symptoms of shingles typically appear as a rash or blisters on one side of the body and can be extremely itchy and painful. Though it is treatable, this must be monitored to help prevent permanent nerve damage.