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Mild Causes of Shingles

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection of the nerve roots caused by a virus. The shingles cause pain or rash, normally located on part of the body. Shingles are a common infection in older adults.

  1. Symptoms of Shingles

    • For someone who first has symptoms of the shingles, it begins with a headache and sensitivity to light or flu-like symptoms. Then itchiness, tingling and an onset of pain occurs. The rash transforms into groups of blisters that fill with fluid; a crust develops over them.

    Cause of Shingles

    • The primary cause of shingles is a latent chickenpox virus. Once a person has chickenpox, it can remain inactive and dormant in the body's nervous system for decades. Those who have had chickenpox can develop shingles since the immune system is not capable of keeping the virus at bay.

    Shingle Infection from Contact

    • Those with shingles can pass the virus via contact with someone who has not had chickenpox. Transmission of shingles normally occurs if someone has contact with an open sore. Until the blisters have scabs, it is important to avoid contact with others, especially those who have never had chickenpox, those with a weakened immune system, newborns and pregnant women.

    Shingles and the Immune System

    • Those who have a weakened immune system are often not capable of fighting off the dormant chickenpox virus. For someone with a weakened immune system from medication use or a medical condition such as HIV/AIDS, steroids, radiation, chemotherapy or lymphatic cancer, shingles may progress more easily as the suppressed immune system is incapable of fighting off the virus.

    Shingles and Stress

    • Chronic stress affects the way that the immune system reacts and changes the functions of the body. When the body reacts to stress, it releases adrenaline and cortisol, which change the consistency of the blood. The immune system produces more white blood cells and fights off foreign contaminants. However, if the body endures chronic stress, the system is always on high alert, so the blood will be more thick than normal. This causes the body's immune system to be incapable of reacting as well to the virus.

    CDC Statistics on Shingles

    • Based on the CDC, one out of three people in the United States develop shingles sometime in their lifetime. Those who are over 60 years of age are at greater risk for having shingles.

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