About the Side Effects of Shingles

Chickenpox is a common childhood disease. Though immunizations have prevented many outbreaks in recent years, older people who had chickenpox decades ago are vulnerable to a related disease called shingles. Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus, lying dormant in the body, resurfaces and causes weeks-long effects that are often worse than the original chickenpox infection.

Rash

• Shingles sufferers often have intense painful rash that is relieved only by prescription painkillers. The pus-filled, itchy blisters sometimes cause permanent skin scars.

Post Herpetic Neuralgia

• Patients may suffer nerve pain or PHN with permanent nerve damage and lose the use of an arm, leg or other function.

Post Herpetic itch

• Itching during and after the shingles attack can cause severe pain and numbness at the skin due to nerve damage.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

• Shingles that spreads to the facial nerve can infect the ears, mouth and scalp. Deafness--temporary or permanent--may remain after the shingles attack.

Hutchinson Sign

• When the rash appears on the tip of the nose, it may indicate ophthalmic shingles causing eye infections and blindness.

Complications

• Severe shingles may infect the brain or other critical body areas and cause death.