All About Shingles: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus – hence it is also sometimes referred to as herpes zoster. It causes painful rash and nerve damage.

Varicella-zoster is the same virus that causes chickenpox, so if you have had chickenpox in the past, you could get shingles at some stage. The virus remains inactive in the body, then can reactivate in the nerves at a later stage.

Let’s take a closer look at shingles (herpes zoster), its symptoms, causes, and the treatment options. 

What are the symptoms of shingles?

The most common symptom of shingles is a rash, which can be painful, raised or rash. The rash usually appears on the chest, face, neck, back, or stomach.

The rash can be accompanied or preceded by other symptoms, including nerve pain, discolored skin and a fever or chills. You may also experience a headache, an upset stomach or a general unwell feeling.

After a few days, the rash will blister and then, after around 10 days, crust into scabs. It may be several weeks before the scabs go away completely.

Symptoms of shingles are different for everyone – some don’t get a rash at all.

What causes shingles?

If you have chickenpox, the virus that caused it – varicella-zoster virus – stays in your body within your nerve cells. Here, it can stay dormant for many years. When it reactivates, it causes shingles.

Why it reactivates after years of inactivity isn’t really known, but doctors think it may happen when our immune system weakens as we age.

You can’t pass shingles onto someone else, but you can pass on chickenpox to someone who hasn’t had it before.

Can shingles be treated?

There are things you can do to manage the symptoms of shingles. These include taking antivirals (acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir), over-the-counter pain relief and corticosteroids.

For some people, taking antivirals as soon as the symptoms start can help the illness to improve. For others, it can be more serious, and they may need to go to hospital.

If you have already had chickenpox, getting the shingles vaccine may reduce your risk of developing shingles.

When should I see a doctor?

If you develop any symptoms of shingles, always see your doctor right away. Taking antiviral medication early can help you to recover quicker.