Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to the Mayo Clinic. Once you have contracted chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the tissues near the spinal cord and brain and appear years later as shingles, the clinic explains. Shingles is not a life-threatening condition, but it can be very painful. The mild symptoms of the illness resemble a common infection with a few unique rash symptoms.
First Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, pain is the first symptom of shingles. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that some individuals may experience a burning sensation or shooting pain with tingling or itching on one side of the body or the face before other symptoms appear. The pain can be mild to severe depending on the location. The pain can often be misattributed to other problems when it occurs in the chest, lungs or kidneys, states the Mayo Clinic. Pain may be the only symptom of shingles for some individuals. The NIH explains that the pain of shingles may last for weeks, months or even years.
Rash
A distinct symptom of shingles is the rash of blisters that appears. The red rash develops a few days after the pain. The red blisters often appear on one side of the chest and continue around the body from the spine to the breastbone, indicates the Mayo Clinic. The blisters are fluid-filled and eventually break open. Itching and scabs accompany the blistering.
Other Symptoms
With the infection, an individual may have a fever, chills, body aches, fatigue and a headache, states the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms are often mild to moderate and are not unique to the illness. Nearly any infection from a virus causes this type of discomfort.
