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What Are the Characteristics of Shingles?

Most people are at some point infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox. After chickenpox goes away, the virus remains in some of the body's nerve cells and can later lead to shingles.

  1. Risk Factors

    • It is not fully understood why VZV reactivates within a given individual when it does. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, risk factors include being over the age of 50 years and having a weakened immune system.

    Features

    • Shingles affects both nerves and skin. Symptoms appear along the line of the nerve that is affected by the flareup of the virus and only occur on one side of the body, generally on the torso or head and face, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Effects

    • Shingles initially causes pain, followed by a red rash on top of which appear blisters. When these blisters break open, a fluid is releases and a crust forms. Shingles does not cause scarring, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Treatment

    • Shingles is treated with a number of different medications, including antivirals (acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir), corticosteroids and pain killers (over-the-counter or prescription based on the severity of pain), according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

    Complications

    • For some people, the pain of shingles continues after the rash has gone away. This is a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia, and the pain is often very severe as well as long lasting.

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