Shingles / Herpes Zoster: Essential Facts

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, causes a painful rash.

The rash is made up of many small blisters and it usually appears on one side only, in the area supplied by a single nerve root from the spinal cord. The pain is often sharp and burning in nature. If shingles is not treated, it can last between 2 to 5 weeks.

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), but you can't "catch" shingles.

When you first come into contact with the VZV virus, you develop chickenpox. After that, the virus lies dormant in your body, usually for many years. When the virus "wakes up" it can cause shingles.

Shingles is most common in elderly people and those with depressed immune systems (for example, after a transplant or when on treatment for cancer).

But anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. If you are young and healthy and develop shingles, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your immune system.

Antiviral drugs such as famciclovir and valaciclovir are very effective for treating shingles.

They reduce the pain and the duration of the rash, but to be effective they must be taken in the first few days.

People who have shingles are not highly contagious.

If you have shingles, you can't pass on the VZV virus to people who have had shingles, because it is already dormant in their body. People who have never had chickenpox have a small risk of coming into contact with the virus if they touch the rash of someone who has shingles. Usually the rash is on areas that are covered by clothing, which provides protection.

The most common complication of shingles is persistent pain after the rash has healed.

This is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The risk of PHN is highest in people who have not received antiviral and pain relief treatment for shingles. PHN can be a very painful and debilitating condition which can continue for up to a year.

Shingles in pregnancy will not lead to problems with the baby.

The mother is already carrying the VZV virus before developing shingles, and there is no increase in the risk of passing it on to the foetus if shingles develops.