Medically reviewed by Danica Alexander, DO
Shingles could be scary and in addition puzzling. What precisely is that this famously painful rash, who will get it, and why does it out of the blue seem? Is shingles contagious? Who must be vaccinated? When you’re confused, you’re hardly the one one. Learn on for solutions to a few of the mostly requested questions on this viral an infection. A few of them could shock you.
What’s shingles?
Shingles, aka herpes zoster, is a viral an infection brought on by the varicella zoster virus, the identical virus that causes chickenpox. While you get shingles, the identical viral particles that gave you chickenpox as a toddler develop into energetic once more, this time inflicting completely different signs.
The principle symptom of shingles is a painful, blistering rash that sometimes seems in a stripe on one facet of your physique, typically on the face or torso.
How does shingles begin?
For a few day or two earlier than you see the rash, chances are you’ll discover ache, burning or stinging within the space the place it is going to seem. It’s generally described as an “electrical” sensation. Different early indicators embody:
- Sensitivity to gentle
- Headache
- Fever
- Chills
- Tiredness
- Upset abdomen
Does shingles itch?
Some individuals expertise gentle to extreme itching earlier than the rash develops. Hardly ever, itching can persist for a number of months and even years after the rash goes away. The situation is named postherpetic pruritus.
What does shingles seem like?
At first, you’ll see reddish patches of pores and skin with clusters of small, stable bumps. Tiny blisters seem 12 to 24 hours later. They get bigger and cloudier and improve in quantity over the subsequent two days. The blisters could converge into massive blisters, which can rupture. After a rupture, the blister fluid kinds a yellow-brown crust, and a scab kinds beneath it.
Can shingles unfold to different elements of the physique?
The rash is often confined to at least one space, however some individuals get it over a bigger space of the physique. Widespread shingles, often called disseminated shingles, often impacts individuals who have a compromised immune system.
How lengthy does shingles ache final?
Shingles signs sometimes go away as soon as the rash disappears utterly, which takes 2 to 4 weeks, however ache could linger for one more month or two. A comparatively small share of people that get the rash—an estimated 10% to 18%—expertise burning ache that lasts for months or years. The complication, referred to as postherpetic neuralgia, could be managed however not cured.
Who will get shingles?
Anybody who has had chickenpox can get shingles, together with youngsters, nevertheless it’s most typical in individuals over 50 as a result of pure decline in immunity that happens with age. Different threat components embody:
- Having an acute or power sickness
- Having a illness that weakens the immune system, resembling HIV/AIDS, leukemia or lymphoma
- Taking a medicine that suppresses the immune system
- Present process radiation remedy or chemotherapy
Are you able to get shingles when you’ve by no means had chickenpox?
You possibly can’t get it when you’ve by no means had chickenpox. When you are available in contact with the fluid from shingles blisters, it’s doable you may get the chickenpox when you’ve by no means had it.
Can stress trigger shingles?
Some research counsel that experiencing power, each day emotional stress may make you extra weak, as may experiencing a aggravating occasion resembling a job loss or the demise of a cherished one.
Is shingles contagious?
In case you have shingles, you may’t give it to a different individual. Nonetheless, you may cross on the virus to somebody who’s by no means had chickenpox or gotten the chickenpox vaccine, and so they can develop chickenpox.
When is shingles contagious? Transmission of the varicella zoster virus is almost certainly to occur when you may have open sores. You’re now not thought-about contagious as soon as the blisters scab over.
Are you able to get shingles greater than as soon as?
Most individuals get it solely as soon as, nevertheless it’s doable to get it once more, particularly when you have a weakened immune system.
Is shingles harmful?
Shingles can result in severe problems, resembling postherpetic neuralgia and bacterial pores and skin infections. If the outbreak happens in a facial nerve close to the ear, you could possibly develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which may trigger facial paralysis and deafness. It’s additionally doable to develop scarring and imaginative and prescient loss if the rash happens in or round your eye.
Thankfully, you may decrease your threat of problems—and velocity therapeutic—when you see your physician as quickly as signs begin and take an antiviral remedy resembling acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex).
Are you able to die from shingles?
Dying from shingles could be very unusual. In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), fewer than 100 individuals die from it annually. Virtually all are older adults or individuals with compromised immune programs.
Who can get the shingles vaccine?
The vaccine, Shingrix, is really useful for adults ages 50 and older and for individuals ages 18 and older who’re immunocompromised.
Specialists suggest that everybody who’s eligible get vaccinated. That features individuals who have already had shingles, have gotten the chickenpox vaccine or have gotten the Zostavax shingles vaccine, which is much less efficient and now not in use. Be ready for momentary negative effects.
When you’ve by no means had chickenpox, ask your physician when you ought to get the chickenpox vaccine as a substitute.
Does Medicare pay for the shingles shot?
You may get Shingrix at your physician’s workplace or native pharmacy. In case you have Medicare Half D protection, the shot will price you nothing. Medicaid could or could not cowl it, so examine along with your insurer.
Most non-public insurers additionally cowl the vaccine however examine earlier than you make an appointment as a result of there could also be some out-of-pocket price. When you can’t afford to get Shingrix, contact the vaccine producer, GSK, to see when you qualify for monetary assist.
How typically do you have to get the shingles vaccine?
You’ll want to be vaccinated with Shingrix solely as soon as in your life. You’ll get the vaccine in two doses, with the second shot given 2 to six months after the primary. When you’re immunosuppressed, it could be helpful to get the second dose sooner. Your physician ought to advise you on the timing.
Can you continue to get shingles after the vaccine?
Whereas Shingrix is very efficient, there’s a small probability you could possibly nonetheless get the an infection. When you do, will probably be milder and shorter, and also you’ll be much less prone to expertise problems.
Written by Jessica Brown, a well being and science author/editor primarily based in Nanuet, New York. She has written for Prevention journal, jnj.com, BCRF.org, and lots of different retailers.