Medline assignment Crystal Roy 1

Shingles is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus,
this is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox the virus stays in your
body and it may not cause problems for many years, but as you get older the virus may reappear
as shingles. Shingles are not contagious, but someone who has not had chickenpox or the
chickenpox vaccine could catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles.

Shingles are most common in people over 50. Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of
catching shingles as they get older. Others that are at risk of getting shingles are people with a
weak immune system, those who have certain cancers, and people who take immunosuppressive
drugs after an organ transplant. If your immune system is weak from an infection or stress you
are also at risk. It is rare to get shingles more than once, but it is possible.

Signs and symptoms of shingles are burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching. It is usually
on one side of the body or face. The pain can be mild to severe. Anywhere from 1-14 days later
you will get a rash; it consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days. The rash is
usually a single stripe around either the left or the right side of the body. In other cases, the rash
occurs on one side of the face. In rare cases, usually among people with weakened immune
systems the rash may be more widespread and look similar to a chickenpox rash. Other
symptoms include headache, fever, chills and upset stomach.

There is no cure for shingles, but an antiviral medicine can help shorten the attack and severity if
taken within 3 days after the rash appears. There is a vaccine to prevent shingles or lessen its
effects. The vaccine is given 2 and 6 months apart.

Resource:
https://medlineplus.gov/shingles.html