Herpes voster, commonly known as shingles, is a viral infection that is related to chickenpox, and can actually develop after having chickenpox. The virus that causes chickenpox can lie dormant for years and eventually cause shingles many years after the initial outbreak.
The initial shingles symptoms are usually very nonspecific and include things like headache, fever and general body aches and pains, which can often lead to it being misdiagnosed. However, eventually those symptoms will be accompanied by a rash that can often be very painful. Often the affected area can become very painful to the touch. Sufferers of shingles have often described sensations like tingling, aching and even sharp shooting pains. The rash generally starts out small and usually appears first on the torso, though it can also show up on other parts of the body. Though unsightly and painful, generally the rash is relatively harmless, except in the rare occasion that it occurs near or on the eyes or ears. The virus spreading to the eye can possibly cause keratitis and optic nerve palsies, which can lead to ocular inflammation, pain and even loss of vision. In the ear, the symptoms can include hearing loss and vertigo.
The shingles virus is contagious. However, if you have already contracted chickenpox as a child you cannot contract shingles as an adult. If you have never had chickenpox, your first contact with shingles will result in the development of chickenpox, as opposed to shingles. As an adult, if you have had chickenpox, though you cannot catch shingles you could possibly develop it later in life, as stated above. The shingles virus is only contagious if there are new and healing blisters. If the blisters are old and already crusted over, it is no longer contagious. The herpes zoster virus has been around since the time of smallpox, however at the time there was no way to distinguish between smallpox and ergotism. Eventually in the 1700s, a man named William Herberden found a way to differentiate between the herpes zoster virus and smallpox. Soon after, associations between that virus and chickenpox were discovered.
Up until fairly recent history, shingles was thought of to be a very non-threatening disease. It was during the 1940s and 1950s that the more serious symptoms were discovered to be more problematic than initially thought. Medical professionals believe that most adults will contract shingles at least once during their lives, with the potential of developing it on their own after that.
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December 1st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Hello,
I am 52 years old, female, and I just got over shingles 2 weeks ago. I had it in my right hip and down the leg to the knee, and luckily only one sore burst through around my inner knee. It was incredibly painful, I couldn’t believe it.
I just read your article above and found it interesting. However, there seems to be some confusion in your wording that leaves me some questions:
You start the article saying that chickenpox virus lays dormant for years and then erupt later in life in the form of shingles.
However, the 3rd paragraph says if you had chickenpox as a child then you do not get shingles later in life. I am on the understanding that if you ever had chickenpox (regardless of when you got it — as a child or as an adult) you only get shingles if you HAD chickenpox before.
Could you please clarify this point?
Thank you,
Mary
December 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am
Mary
I think the comment is in relation to shingles being contagious and should have said that if you have had chicken pox you can’t catch shingles from someone else.
From my reading you are correct I understand you can only develop it if you have had chicken pox.
I’ve got it too – doesn’t it hurt!
May 18th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Hi Sandy,
I am so sorry for not checking this site after your reply. Thank you for your thoughts. The shingles have gone away completely, thank goodness.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:52 am
I have had “herpes zoster” recurrently, for years… in fact since the age of 10 or so,and always on the side of the nose. But i cannot recall having had chickenpox as a child…so where does it come from? It always starts with a very painful feeling of being skinned alive around the eye and on the cheek up to the skull. It seems that nothing can stop it to erupt! Once the blisters appear then the skinning-tingling sensation subsides and I feel feverish for day or two. the whole course till the crusty bits fall off may take about 10 days. The chickenpox virus is dormant for months, but it becomes awake and makes itself visible when 1) my immune system is weak, that is when I am very tired having overworked with not enough sleep, or 2) when I have had too much to eat and drink (just the one glass too many! or much chocolate) that is always around Christmas time! I am now 72 and have learnt to live with it. But if a cure could be found, would be wonderful… what could you suggest?
July 21st, 2010 at 12:09 am
Hello Maya,
I’m sorry you suffer so badly. I have Shingles at the moment and it hurts!
I have read that Zovirax, applied within 48 hours can lessen the effects. In your place, I would query it with your doctor, it may help if you have another breakout.
Michelle