Shingles

Also called: Herpes zoster, Postherpetic neuralgia
Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox, the virus stays in your body. It may not cause problems for many years. As you get older, the virus may reappear as shingles. Unlike chickenpox, you can't catch shingles from someone who has it.
Early signs of shingles include burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching, usually on one side of the body or face. The pain can be mild to severe. Blisters then form and last from one to 14 days. If shingles appears on your face, it may affect your vision or hearing. The pain of shingles may last for weeks, months or even years after the blisters have healed.
There is no cure for shingles. Early treatment with medicines that fight the virus may help. These medicines may also help prevent lingering pain. A vaccine may prevent shingles or lessen its effects. The vaccine is for people 60 or over.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Shingles(Patient Education Institute)
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Shingles(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Shingles: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Overviews
Shingles(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Shingles(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Shingles Disease - Questions and Answers (Herpes Zoster)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Latest News
Prescription Painkiller Relieves Shingles Pain(04/03/2009, Reuters Health)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Raise Shingles Risk(02/17/2009, HealthDay)
Prevention/Screening
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine Q & A(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF
Zostavax Questions and Answers(Food and Drug Administration)
Specific Conditions
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Herpes Zoster Oticus(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Postherpetic Neuralgia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Return to top
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Shingles & the Transplant Patient(American Association of Kidney Patients) Return to top
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Shingles (Zoster)(Logical Images) Return to top
Tutorials
Shingles(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Shingles(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Herpes Zoster(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Neuralgia, Postherpetic(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
Research
Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles Virus in Older Adults(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Shingles vaccination is likely to be cost effective at age...
Article: Herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia.
Article: Risk of herpes zoster in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated...
Shingles -- see more articles Return to top
Directories
Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Organizations
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Seniors
Shingles(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Shingles(National Institute on Aging) Return to top
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Date last updated: 06 April 2009 Topic last reviewed: 12 March 2009