A case of shingles can really get on your nerves – literally. The viral infection causes a painful skin rash and accompanying nerve pain that can linger long after the rash has cleared up.
The shingles is associated with the childhood disease varicella, commonly called chickenpox.
Contracting the chickenpox as a 5- or 6-year-old was common and not seen as a big deal, as far as childhood diseases go.
But about 30 years ago, a vaccine was introduced to eliminate or greatly reduce the severity of the chickenpox in young children.
Shingles is not contagious, but it can be transmitted to someone who has not had chickenpox or who hasn’t had the vaccine against chickenpox, according to information on the CDC website.
Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. It lies dormant and then reactivates – sometimes triggered by stress – and usually affects older adults or people with weak immune systems. The rash typically appears on one side of the face or body and lasts two to four weeks. But lingering effects of nerve pain, which can feel like tingling or that pins-and-needles feeling can last longer than the rash.
Thankfully, most people only have a single episode during their lifetime, but it is possible to have shingles more than once. The risk of spreading VZV to others is low if you cover the shingles rash. People with shingles cannot spread the virus before their rash blisters appear or after the rash crusts.
People with chickenpox are more likely to spread VZV than people with shingles.
Consult your health professional or primary care provider to learn whether you should get the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for healthy adults over 50.