More Symptoms of the Condition of Shingles

Aside from painful, watery clusters or bands of blisters that erupt on the skin, the condition of shingles--caused by the varicella-zoster virus that is also responsible for the chicken pox--can have other symptoms as well.

Flu-Like Symptoms

• Those who experience an outbreak of shingles may notice flu-like symptoms just before or concomitant with an outbreak. Symptoms can include, fever, headache, aching joints and fatigue.

Postherpetic Neuralgia

• Shingles resolve after a few weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. After shingles lesions have healed, some patients still experience symptoms of extreme pain or itching for months or even years, or may exhibit hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to touch).

Dangerous Symptoms

• When shingles affects the eye or the brain by way of certain cranial nerves, serious complications can arise, such as hearing loss, impaired vision and even blindness.

Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome

• A rare condition resulting from shingles is Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, which occurs when the facial nerve near the inner ear gets infected. This can cause vertigo and temporary or permanent facial paralysis.

Treating Shingles

• Symptoms can be considerably reduced with the prescription oral antiviral medications acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology states that while these are extremely effective, they will only work if taken during the first three days of a shingles outbreak.