Shingles are caused by virus by name varicella zoster. It is the one that causes chickenpox in humans and the virus remains dormant in the nerve tissues for years which will develop causing shingles later. This disease is marked by painful rashes on the body that produces blisters on one side of the body.
Shingles are different from herpes virus that causes sexually transmitted disease. The affected person can have intense pain and discomfort even after rash has gone. There is no vaccine for preventing shingles but old age people can take a shot of zostavax for reducing the chance of getting shingles.
A person who has got chickenpox is at the risk of getting shingles later in his life. The virus remains inactive in the body for long years which will become active when the conditions are favorable.
Symptoms :
Shingles normally bothers only one side of the body with painful rashes or pus filled blisters. It would cause burning sensation on the affected part of the body and for some people there can be numbness or tingling feeling indicating nerve infection. It can cause moderate to severe itching and the pus inside the blisters will break open after some days.
Because of intense pain, shingles are sometimes mistaken for heart or kidney problem. Pain is the first sign for this disease and for some there may not be any rash at all on the skin. In addition to the above, it can cause headache, fatigue, fever and body ache for some people.
Causes :