Shingles are caused by varicella-zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve ever had chickenpox (typically during childhood), this virus is quietly hiding out in the roots of your nerves. It can reactivate and cause a painful skin rash. This is known as shingles or herpes zoster.
Not everyone who has had chickenpox will develop a case of shingles. Approximately 1 in 3 North Americans develop shingles at some point in their life. Most people who get shingles are 50 years of age or older, but it can happen at any age.
The latent or "quiet" infection caused by varicella-zoster can become active again, even many years after you’ve had chickenpox. This can occur when your immune system isn’t working at its best. This may be due to any of the following reasons:
However, most of the time, it is difficult to know exactly what triggered reactivation of the virus. A person with a shingles rash can pass the varicella-zoster virus onto someone who has not yet been infected with the virus, usually a child. However, the newly infected person would develop chickenpox, not shingles. Shingles occurs as a reactivation of the latent virus, not from "catching it" from someone who has shingles.
Antiviral medications (e.g., acyclovir*, valacyclovir, and famciclovir) work best if started within 72 hours of developing blisters. This will help blisters crust over and heal faster. These medications may not cure the disease, but they can help minimize the extent and spread of the rash, as well as minimize the pain associated with it. They may also help to reduce the risk of developing chronic pain from shingles.
Talk with your pharmacist about using over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen for the pain associated with shingles. If your pain is very severe, your doctor may prescribe other types of medications (e.g., certain anti-seizure medications, corticosteroids, or narcotic pain medications such as oxycodone) to help with the pain.
To relieve the itching and pain of shingles, you can try:
Keep the rash dry and clean, avoid scratching the blisters, and avoid dressings and bandages with adhesives.
To prevent shingles, the first step is to avoid getting chickenpox. If you haven’t had it, make sure you don’t touch the blisters of people with either chickenpox or shingles. A vaccine against chickenpox is available for both children and adults.
There is also a herpes zoster vaccine (Shingrix®) available that can help reduce the chances of developing shingles, and if you do, reduce the intensity and the duration of the symptoms. The herpes zoster vaccine also makes you less likely to develop post-herpetic neuralgia. It’s recommended for people 50 years of age or older regardless of whether they had chickenpox or shingles before and regardless of whether they have been vaccinated with the older, live-virus vaccine (Zostavax II®).
If you’ve already had chickenpox, you can help prevent the virus from becoming active again and causing shingles by keeping your immune system healthy – a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest can go a long way to help.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Shingles
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