What is shingles? What are shingles symptoms?
Actress and director Elizabeth Banks recently discussed her "not fun" time with shingles. But what exactly is it, and how long does it last?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who have had chickenpox before are at increased risk of developing shingles. After a person recovers from the infection, the virus stays inactive in the body and can become reactive years later, causing shingles, the CDC said. Signs and symptoms include:
- Pain, itching or skin tingling
- Painful rash of blister-like sores
- Fever
- Headache
- Chills
- Upset stomach
It typically doesn't last beyond three to five weeks, according to Johns Hopkins; the rash usually has blisters that scab over across 7 to 10 days and go away in two to four weeks. About 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the CDC, and an estimated 1 million people in the country develop the disease each year. The disease causes less than 100 deaths a year.
What are complications of shingles?
Shingles can cause encephalitis and Ramsay Hunt syndrome, the CDC said.
Encephalitis is brain inflammation and can be caused by viral infections, autoimmune inflammation, bacterial infection and insect bites, among other causes, according to the Mayo Clinic. And Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when a shingles outbreak impacts the facial nerve near one of the ears, according to the Mayo Clinic, often causing facial paralysis and hearing loss.
The virus can also cause other complications during an outbreak, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
Postherpetic neuralgia, or long-term nerve pain, can occur even when the shingles rash clears up and can last for months or years. The agency said about 10% to 18% of people who get shingles will experience this pain, and the risk of developing it increases with age.
Other complications from a shingles outbreak can include pneumonia and hearing problems.
Is shingles contagious?
Shingles is not contagious, the CDC said, but the virus that causes shingles can be transmitted and cause chickenpox in someone who has never had the disease or was never vaccinated.
The virus can transmit through direct contact with fluid from shingles blisters or rash. To prevent transmission, the CDC recommends:
- Covering the rash
- Avoiding contact with the rash
- Washing hands often
The shingles vaccine: Who should get it?
The CDC recommends adults 50 and older get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles and complications from the disease. The agency said people should still get vaccinated even if they’ve had shingles or received the chickenpox vaccine.
The vaccine is also recommended for adults 19 and older who have weakened immune systems.