Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Shingles is a painful viral infection that causes a rash. Shingles can appear anywhere on the body. It usually appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left or right side of your torso.

What are the causes of Shingles?

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. The virus that causes chickenpox remains in your body for the rest of your life. The virus may reactivate as shingles years later.

What are the Symptoms of shingles?

Symptoms of shingles come in stages. The first stage is a tingling or numb feeling beneath your skin. That tingling turns into a patchy red rash after about 5 days. This rash has the potential to ooze and itch. Fever, fatigue, and headache are some of the other symptoms.

How is Shingles treated?

Treatments for managing the symptoms of shingles include Acyclovir (Zovirax®).
Famciclovir (Famvir®) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex®).

Antibacterial drugs may be prescribed if you develop a bacterial infection due to the shingles rash.

How can shingles be prevented?

Getting the shingles vaccine is the most effective way to prevent shingles. The Shingrix vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 50. Even if you’ve never had chickenpox, the vaccine is still advised as a precaution.