What is shingles and what causes it?
Shingles is a viral infection of the nerve and surrounding skin, also known as herpes zoster. It is caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. While you will usually only get chickenpox once in your life, the virus that causes it remains in your body. If it becomes active again at a later date, it causes shingles rather than chickenpox.
Shingles Signs and symptoms
These early symptoms can include a headache, burning, tingling, numbness or itchiness of the skin in the affected area, a feeling of being generally unwell and a high temperature (fever). An episode of shingles typically lasts around two to four weeks. It usually affects a specific area on just one side of the body. There is sharp pain and this is followed by a rash which can be red and scab over after 4 weeks.
Vaccination Information
The shingles vaccine is a live vaccine, which means it contains a weakened version of the virus that causes shingles. You only require one dose and no booster is needed.
