The shingles virus! You've heard of it, but do you really know what it is?  Many people know that there is a connection between shingles and chickenpox. The virus responsible is one of the herpes virus group, known as the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).  When this virus first infects you, usually during early childhood, it causes the characteristic chickenpox rash of small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) scattered over the body.  The virus then remains in the body hidden away in nerve cells in the spinal cord for the remainder of your life. After a variable period of time, usually several years, the virus can reactivate and begin to divide again. This time it travels along nerve fibers to different parts of the skin to cause shingles.  Sleeping giant awakens! A weakness in the immune system (the body's defense against infection) allows the virus to multiply, and in fact attacks seem to occur at times of stress and/or after serious illnesses.  If the immune system is compromised for other reasons, shingles can occur more readily, such as after a transplant operation, if you are taking immune suppressant medication, and with AIDS. Sometimes the shingles takes a nastier form in these cases.  What are the symptoms?  The first symptom of shingles is a burning sensation, tingling or extreme sensitivity in the area of skin supplied by the infected nerve. This may be present for up to three days before the rash comes out. You may also develop a headache and fever. The more dead the immune system the less likely the fever. The skin then becomes red, and soon groups of blisters appear resembling chickenpox. The blisters travel along the path of the nerve around the body, most commonly around the trunk but also on the face, arms and legs.  The blisters can last for up to three weeks. The fluid in the blisters commonly becomes bloodstained. The blisters finally crust over and the scabs fall off.  Occasionally there are complications?  There may be facial paralysis if the facial nerve is involved, but this is not normally permanent.  Just as with Chickenpox scarring can occur after a severe infection, particularly if there has been bacterial infection complication.  Great care is needed if the area of the face around the eye is involved, because ophthalmic shingles can cause severe inflammation of the cornea. This can lead to permanent loss of sight and so hospital admission for intensive therapy is necessary for this type of shingles.  Antibiotics are not effective against Shingles and should only be taken when a secondary bacterial infection of the blisters can occur.  The most common complication is called post-herpetic neuralgia. This is more likely the older you are and is difficult to treat. The pain commonly lasts for up to three months after an attack and can be severe and long lasting  With natural treatment the duration of Shingles seem to respond faster and better with less post-herpetic pain. Click here to return to Shingles Treatment