Questions & Answers

Click here for a fully formatted PDF version of these Qs & As.

What causes shingles?
Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, the varicella zoster virus (VZV). After a person has had chickenpox, the virus rests in the body's nerves permanently. Approximately 30% of all people who have been infected with chickenpox will later develop herpes zoster, commonly known as zoster or shingles.

Why do some people develop shingles and others don't?
Herpes zoster, or shingles, occurs when latent VZV reactivates and causes recurrent disease. It is not well understood why this happens in some people and not others. The risk of getting shingles increases as a person gets older. People who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs are also at greater risk to get shingles.

How long does it take to show signs of shingles after having chickenpox?
Most people who have had chickenpox never develop shingles; however, anyone who has ever had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox can develop shingles, including children. Shingles most commonly occurs in people age 50 years and older and the incidence of the disease keeps increasing with increasing age.

What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles usually starts as a rash with blisters that scab after 3 to 5 days. The most frequently mentioned symptom is pain. The rash and pain usually occur in a band on one side of the body, or clustered on one side of the face. The rash usually clears within 2 to 4 weeks.

Before the rash develops, there is often pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach.

What are possible complications from shingles?
Very rarely, shingles can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, scarring, brain inflammation (encephalitis), or death.

For about one person in five, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up, a situation called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). As people get older, they are more likely to develop PHN, and it is more likely to be severe and long lasting. The pain may be sharp or throbbing, and it may extend beyond the area of the original rash. The skin may be unusually sensitive to touch and to changes in temperature. PHN can last for months, or even years.

Is there a treatment for shingles?
Several antiviral medicines can be used to treat shingles. These medications should be started as soon as possible after the rash appears. They can help shorten the length and severity of the episode. Pain medicine may also help with pain caused by shingles.

What should I do if I think I might have shingles?
See your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of shingles or if there is any unexplained rash or pain in any part of your body. Antiviral treatment is most effective if administered within 24 to 72 hours of the appearance of the rash.

Is there a test for shingles?
Yes. The test consists of a laboratory examination of cells taken from a skin lesion.

Can you catch shingles from an infected person?
No, shingles cannot be passed from one person to another such as through sneezing, coughing, or casual contact. While it is possible for the VZV virus to be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox if they have direct contact with the rash, the person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles.

How common is shingles in the United States?
It is estimated that one million cases of shingles occur annually.

Can you get shingles more than once?
Yes, but rarely. Ninety-five percent of episodes are first occurrences, and 5% are recurrences. Third cases have been known to occur.

Questions and answers about zoster (shingles) vaccine

Technically reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2007