Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella, or chickenpox, virus. It occurs more commonly in people older than 50 years old and in those with a weakened immune system.
Function
Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. People will have chickenpox in their youth, and the virus remains dormant until it reactivates, causing shingles.
Features
Shingles begins as a painful tingling sensation on one side of the body, then it erupts as a rash with clustered vesicles or blisters that then crust over.
Time Frame
The shingles rash can remain for about one to two weeks. People usually have shingles once in their lifetime.
Identification
Identification is by visualizing the rash with the typical characteristics in someone who has had chickenpox before. A culture can be done on the blisters to identify the virus.
Prevention/Solution
There is a vaccine to prevent shingles available to people older than 60 years old.
