Prodromal Stage
The first stage of shingles lasts 2 to 5 days and is called the prodromal stage. The patient may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea and headache. The symptoms that are specific to shingles include numbness on one side of the face or body, burning, tingling or shooting pain on one side of the face or body (either intermittent or constant) and itching on one side of the face or body.
Eruptive Stage
The second stage of shingles is called the eruptive stage, in which swelling, redness and clustered blisters (filled with clear fluid) will erupt at the pain sites. New blisters may appear for up to five days, almost always occurring on one side of the body. Within two weeks the blisters fill with pus and then scab over. This rash usually lasts from 3 to 5 weeks, and may appear on one side of the face or torso, an arm or leg or on the waistline or buttocks.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)
Although not considered a medical stage of shingles, postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN, occurs after a shingles outbreak and is the most common complication. PHN after shingles can last for months or years and the pain can be debilitating. The pain may be throbbing, sharp, aching, stabbing or piercing, and may be intensified by stress. Other symptoms may include burning, itching and skin that is hypersensitive to touch and temperature, tremors, weakness or in rare cases paralysis.
