Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster (shingles) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

Symptoms:

• The first symptom is usually one sided pain tingling or burning. The pain and burning may be severe and is usually present before any rash appears.
• Red patches on the skin, followed by small blisters, form in the most people.
• The rash usually involves a narrow area from the spine around to the front of the belly area or chest.
• The rash may involve face, eyes, mouth and ears.
• Additional symptoms may include abdominal pain, difficulty moving some of the muscle in the face, fever and lips, general ill-feeling, etc...

Did you know:

Herpes zoster may develop in any age group, but you are more likely to develop the condition if:

1. You are older than 60
2. You had chickenpox before age 1
3. Your immune system is weakened by medications or disease.
4. If an adult or child has direct contact with the shingles rash on someone and has not had chickenpox as a child or a chickenpox vaccine, they can develop chickenpox than shingles.