Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster, known as shingles, is a painful rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains in the body after chickenpox. People with a past chickenpox infection can be affected, and the risk rises with age, mostly beyond 50. Weakened immunity raises the risk, whether from HIV, certain cancers, immunosuppressive medicines, chemotherapy or stress. Early signs are burning, tingling or shooting pain, sometimes with headache, followed by itchy blisters in a stripe or cluster confined to one side of the body or face. Complications include persistent nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia), eye involvement that can threaten sight, and hearing, balance or facial nerve problems. Diagnosis is usually clinical, from the history and the look of the rash, sometimes confirmed by laboratory testing. Antiviral medicines can make an attack less severe and may help prevent nerve pain; the condition cannot be cured.

Seek urgent care for a high fever with a stiff neck, rash, confusion, difficulty breathing, or fever after travel to a malaria area. See a doctor when a fever lasts more than three days, when symptoms return after treatment, or when you may have been exposed to an infection that needs testing. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.