Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is an extremely painful and dangerous viral condition that is caused by the spontaneous reactivation of the chickenpox virus that usually lay dormant in the body. A whopping 1 in 3 Americans will be affected by shingles at some point in their lifetime.

Symptoms of Shingles

According to the Mayo Clinic, many of the symptoms only affect one section or side of the body. These symptoms may include:

• A few fluid-filled red blisters that crust over once broken
• A rash of blisters that most commonly appears as a stripe around the torso
• Itching
• Skin or eye sensitivity
• Pain, numbness, burning or tingling (pain is usually the first sign)
• Fatigue
• Fever
• General malaise

Important facts About Shingles

• Shingles can cause permanent eye damage if it occurs near the eye and isn’t treated right away.
• Advanced age increases your risk of contracting shingles.
• It can cause problems with the nerves, tissue and skin of the affected area and is best when caught and treated early.
• Shingles can cause pain that last for years.
• There is a shingles vaccine available now. The CDC recommends anyone over 60 receive the vaccine.
• If you seek medical treatment at the very first onset of shingles symptoms, you have better chance of catching it before it turns ugly.

That’s all for now, if you have questions about shingles or any other medical condition, our board certified DocChat physicians are standing by 24/7/365 to assist you!