If you’ve had the chickenpox virus, there’s a chance the virus is lying dormant in your body. That virus often presents itself later in life as the shingles virus.
Shingles can cause a very painful rash. The virus can appear anywhere on your body, at any time.
The virus often appears a single stripe of blisters that wrap around your torso, however, sometimes the rash begins around your eyes or on your face or on your neck.
The virus is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful.
There are vaccines you can be given that help reduce the risk of getting shingles. If you get shingles, early treatment is essential at shortening the duration and severity of the infection.
Symptoms of shingles-
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles.
Other symptoms may include:
*From Mayo Clinic
- Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
Some people also experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
Shingles are contagious. If you have shingles, you should not be around unvaccinated people, newborns, pregnant women or those with a weakened immune system until the blisters have fully scabbed over.
Shingles often affects people who have an already weakened immune system, people over 50 years of age and people who are frequently treated with steroids, such as prednisone.
If not treated, shingles can lead to other serious issues such as, skin infections, neurological problems, vision loss and neuralgia (damaged nerves).
If you have any rash that is painful or won’t go away, seek medical care!
Sources:
WebMD
Mayo Clinic