Shingles: Understanding Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection. It is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Even after you've had chicken pox, the virus can stay dormant within you and sometimes, years later, can present itself as shingles. Shingles often looks like blisters, typically starts on your back and can wrap around to your chest. It can also affect your scalp, neck and face.

Pain

• Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some people, the pain can become so excruciating that even the slightest touch is intolerable.

Rash

• Typically a couple of days after you begin to experience pain, a rash will appear. However, some people do not get a rash.

Blisters

• Blisters develop after the rash and may break open and not heal well.

Itching

• The rash and blisters from shingles may cause itching.

Headache

• You may experience a headache with shingles.

Fever

• Some people acquire a fever with an outbreak of shingles.

Treatment

• Treatment for shingles usually involves medications, antiviral medication, antibiotics and/or aspirin or ibuprofen. Other complications can arise from shingles, so early treatment is essential.