Shingles
Also called: herpes zoster
A viral infection that causes a painful rash, also called shingles.
- Preventable by vaccine
- Treatable by a medical professional
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging rarely required
- Short-term: resolves within days to weeks
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. It isn't known what reactivates the virus.
Most commonly, shingles causes a painful rash that may appear as a stripe of blisters that wraps around the side of the torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around the eye or one side of the neck or face.
There is no cure for shingles. Early treatment with prescription antiviral medicine may speed healing and lower the risk of complications. A prescription medicine also may help with pain. A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. It also can reduce the severity of the disease and lower the risk of a complication called postherpetic neuralgia.
Common: More than 200,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice
Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
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Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters.
Shingles is a painful rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Protect yourself from serious complications by getting vaccinated.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, ...
May 10, 2024 · Shingles is a painful rash illness. People get shingles when the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox, reactivates in their bodies.
Apr 1, 2024 · Shingles is an infection caused by a virus. The main symptom is a painful rash. The virus that causes shingles is called varicella zoster.
Apr 20, 2024 · What is shingles? Shingles (herpes zoster) is an infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral syndrome caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. After an episode of varicella (chicken-pox), ...
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus behind chickenpox. Learn about shingles symptoms.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster or zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a ...
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area.
