Shingles

Shingles cannot be spread from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles.

The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters caused by shingles. A person with active shingles can only spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. Shingles is not contagious before the blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts/scabs, the person is no longer contagious.

Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.

Shingles causes an extremely painful rash on one side of the body or face in the form of blisters. The blisters usually scab over in 7–10 days and clear up in 2-4 weeks.

If you have shingles:

• Keep the rash covered
• Avoid touching or scratching the rash
• Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the virus

Until your rash has developed crusts, avoid contact with:

• pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine
• premature or low birth weight infants
• people with weakened immune systems, such as people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

Usually 1-5 days before the rash develops people usually have tingling, itching and pain in the area where the rash will develop. In most cases, the rash forms in a single stripe around the right or left side of the body. In some cases, the rash forms on the face. Shingles can affect the eye and cause vision loss.

Other Symptoms

• Upset stomach
• Headache
• Fever and chills

Shingles can lead to serious complications. The most common shingles complication is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia.

Your risk of shingles and serious complications increases:

• As you get older
• If you have medical conditions that keep your immune systems from working properly such as certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and HIV infection
• If you take drugs that keep your immune system from working properly, like steroids and drugs given after an organ transplant

Several antiviral medicines are available to treat shingles. To be effective, these medications must be started as soon as possible after the rash appears.

If shingles in suspected contact your health care provider immediately. Pain medication can be used to control the pain. Colloidal oatmeal baths, wet compresses, and calamine lotion can help relieve some of the itching.

A vaccine is available for the prevention of shingles.