Shingles in Adults: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Known as Herpes zoster, shingles has a number of symptoms. The same virus that causes shingles, Varicella zoster, also causes chicken pox. Shingles is a painful skin disease that affects adults who had chicken pox as children. In addition to the pain, there is a rash and blisters which heal in a few weeks. The symptoms of shingles can be treated, but there is no cure for the disease.

Pain

• Pain is the first symptom of the disease. With some people, it is mild while others have severe pain.

Other Sensations

• There could also be itching, burning, tingling or numbness in the area. There is also skin sensitivity.

Rash

• The rash appears a few days after the pain begins. The rash resembles chicken pox.

Blisters

• Blisters are fluid-filled skin eruptions that develop after the rash appears. The blisters break, the fluid spills out and, as the lesion heals, a crust forms.

Fever and Chills

• A fever can also develop with shingles. Chills are also possible.

Headche

• Some people experience a headache when they have a shingles outbreak.