What is Shingles? – ZimEye

Dr. Mishek Ruvender

This is caused by shingles (a painful rash that appears on one side of the body, such as the chest, back, face, along a specific path – a nerve). It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for life. Years later, the virus may reactivate in the form of shingles.

This means that anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, but it is more common in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV or those taking steroids.

The disease is not sexually transmitted or contagious, but the virus that causes the disease can be spread to people who have not had chickenpox, and they may develop chickenpox.

In most cases, the blisters go away within 3 to 5 weeks, but the pain around them may linger for a long time after the blisters go away. Your doctor will prescribe medicine to help you

Related