Shingles Herpes Zoster - The Shingles Virus

Shingles, medically known as Herpes Zoster, as it is caused by the varicella zoster virus, is a virus in which a rash and blisters will occur on a small, specific area of the body, causing a lot of pain, irritation and itchiness. The varicella zoster virus which causes it is the same virus which causes chickenpox, and it is able to cause shingles as this virus remains in the body after chickenpox has occurred. Shingles is simply when this varicella zoster virus “attacks”. The shingles virus, for those who have it, will generally only occur once in a person’s lifetime. However, there is quite a high chance that you might not even get it, as only around 25% of all people do have shingles.

Shingles is not contagious, at least not to those who have had the chickenpox. This is due to the fact that the varicella zoster virus is present in everyone’s bodies after they have the chickenpox, and therefore it doesn’t need to be transferred between different people. It will simply attack on its own accord. However, if someone with shingles comes into contact with a person who hasn’t had the chickenpox yet than it becomes contagious (if the person catches it they will get the chickenpox). Therefore, shingles is mostly contagious only to children rather than adults, as most people get the chickenpox early on in their life.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) has some symptoms that can tell you whether you are getting the virus or not. Often you will start feeling woozy/getting headaches before a rash will break out on a specific area of your skin. This rash will generally be very itchy and sometimes quite painful. Blisters will form, and a few weeks later they should start to crust. It is at this point that the shingles virus is no longer contagious to anyone.

As for cures, there are no known cures to the virus. However, some creams do provide pain relief on the infected area, so be on the lookout for those.