After an individual has the chickenpox, the virus settles in the nerves near the spinal cord and lies dormant in the body. Later, the varicella-zoster virus can reactivate and cause shingles. The shingles outbreak usually only happens once to an individual, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Some symptoms of shingles include pain, fever, achiness, fatigue and headache. Additional symptoms of the condition can cause the shingles to spread to other people who have never had chickenpox.
Rash
After a few days of fever, chills and pain along a nerve, which usually occurs along an individual's side running from the back to the chest, a rash forms, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. The rash appears as reddened skin before blisters erupt. The rash normally follows the path of the affected nerve and commonly occurs on one side of the trunk of the body, but it may also occur on the face. Touching the area can cause pain. As the first physical symptoms of the condition, the affected individual needs to avoid individuals with no prior chickenpox exposure, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems.
Blisters
Blisters begin to develop along the path of the reddened skin. The fluid inside the virus carries the varicella-zoster virus. Direct contact with the fluid in the blisters can cause an individual without previous exposure to chickenpox to develop the infection. After about five days, the blisters begin to dry up and scab over. Once the blisters completely scab over and begin to heal, the individual is not contagious, according to MayoClinic.com.
Itching
Itching may occur over the area of skin with the blister rash. After scratching the rash, the blisters can break open and spread the viral infection to other people. Home remedies can help lessen the itching and help an individual resist scratching, according to MayoClinic.com. Some relief measures include taking oral antihistamines and applying calamine lotion to the rash. Using cool, wet washcloths or soaking in a cool bath may also help relieve the itching.
