| Shingles is a condition characterized by painful blisters | | | | from an affected person to children or adults who |
| that typically appear in a linear distribution on the skin | | | | have not had chickenpox. Instead of developing |
| following nerve pathways. Shingles is caused by | | | | shingles, these people develop chickenpox. Once they |
| reactivation of a previous infection with the | | | | have had chickenpox, people cannot catch shingles (or |
| varicella-zoster virus. Shingles is a herpes virus | | | | contract the virus) from someone else. Once infected, |
| infection (herpes zoster) that usually affects a nerve, | | | | however, people have the potential to develop shingles |
| causing pain in one area of the body. Infection of the | | | | later in life. |
| ganglia of the posterior roots of the spinal nerves or | | | | Doctors can distinguish shingles from chickenpox (or |
| the fifth cranial nerve by the varcella-zoster virus | | | | dermatitis or poison ivy) by the way the spots are |
| (shingles), which also causes chicken pox; it is marked | | | | distributed. Since shingles occurs in an area of the skin |
| by a painful eruption of vesicles usually on one side of | | | | that is supplied by sensory fibers of a single |
| the body along the course of one or more cutaneous | | | | nerve--called a dermatome--the rash usually appears |
| nerves. | | | | in a well-defined band on one side of the body, typically |
| Shingles is derived from the Latin and French words | | | | the torso; or on one side of the face, around the nose |
| for belt or girdle, reflecting distribution of the rash in a | | | | and eyes. (Shingles' peculiar name derives from the |
| broad band. This band is usually only on one side of | | | | Latin cingulum, which means girdle or belt.) If a diagnosis |
| the body and represents a dermatome—the area | | | | is in doubt, lab tests can confirm the presence of the |
| that a single sensory nerve supplies in the skin. | | | | virus. |
| Today's treatments provide a variety of ways to | | | | To help with the pain of shingles, your doctor might |
| shorten the duration of a shingles outbreak and to | | | | have you take an over-the-counter pain medicine like |
| control the associated pain. Sometimes, however, | | | | acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen |
| shingles leads to a chronic painful condition called | | | | (one brand name: Motrin). Aspirin is not recommended |
| post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) that can be difficult to | | | | because using it might cause a liver problem called |
| treat. Putting a medicated lotion (two brand names: | | | | Reye's syndrome. |
| Benadryl, Caladryl) on the blisters might reduce the pain | | | | Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles, while |
| and itching. Putting cool compresses soaked in an | | | | early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection |
| astringent liquid (two brand names: Bluboro, Domeboro) | | | | and minimize the chance of complications. If shingles |
| on the blisters and sores might make them hurt or itch | | | | causes severe pain, your doctor might have you take |
| less. | | | | a prescription pain medicine. |
| The first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, | | | | Good home care can help you feel better faster. Take |
| or sometimes numbness or itch, in one particular | | | | care of any skin sores, and keep them clean. Take |
| location on only one side of the body. After several | | | | your medicines as directed. And use over-the-counter |
| days or a week, a rash of fluid-filled blisters, similar to | | | | pain medicines to relieve pain. |
| chickenpox, appears in one area on one side of the | | | | Avoid contact with people until the rash heals. While |
| body. Shingles pain can be mild or intense. Some | | | | you have shingles, you can spread chickenpox to |
| people have mostly itching; some feel pain from the | | | | people who have never had chickenpox. Be extra |
| gentlest touch or breeze. The most common location | | | | careful to avoid people with weak immune systems |
| for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning | | | | and pregnant women and babies who have never had |
| one side of the trunk around the waistline. | | | | chickenpox. |
| Yes, shingles is contagious. Shingles can be spread | | | | |