What is shingles?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful rash with blisters. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in your nervous system and can reactivate years later as shingles.
Most people who develop shingles only experience it once, though it’s possible to have multiple episodes. The risk of developing it increases with age, particularly after 50, and in people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of Shingles
The condition typically affects one side of the body, often appearing as a band or strip of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso. However, shingles can also happen on other parts of the body, including the face and neck.
Recognising these symptoms early can help you promptly seek treatment for shingles, which may reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak.
The stages typically progress with:
- Early symptoms – You may experience pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in a specific area, often before any rash appears
- Red rash – A red shingles rash develops in the affected area, usually appearing as a band or strip
- Fluid-filled blisters – Small blisters form along the rash, filled with clear fluid
- Blisters burst and crust over – The blisters eventually break open and form scabs
- Healing – The scabs dry up and fall off, typically within 2-4 weeks
Other common symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue, and sensitivity to light.
What causes shingles?
Shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which has been lying dormant in your nerve roots after a previous chickenpox infection and becomes active again. This reactivation usually happens when your immune system is weakened due to factors such as stress, illness, certain medications, or simply getting older.
Shingles isn’t as contagious as chickenpox, but you can still pass the virus to people who haven’t had chickenpox or the vaccine. However, they would develop chickenpox, not shingles.
Complications of Shingles
While most people recover from shingles without lasting effects, there can be some complications, particularly in older adults or those with weakened immune systems.
Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication, affecting up to 20% of people with shingles. This condition causes persistent nerve pain in the area where the rash has been, lasting for months or even years after the skin has healed. The pain can be severe and have a big effect on daily life.
When shingles affects the face, particularly around the eye area, eye complications can develop. If not treated promptly, these can lead to serious problems, including vision loss. If you get shingles near your eye, seek immediate medical attention.
Secondary bacterial infections can happen when the blisters become infected with bacteria, leading to additional complications that may require antibiotic treatment.
Other less common complications include hearing problems, facial paralysis, and, in rare cases, brain inflammation. Early treatment for shingles can help reduce the risk of developing these complications.
How to Treat Shingles
While shingles will eventually heal on its own, effective shingles medication treatment can help bring symptoms under control and speed up recovery. The key to successful shingle treatment is starting medication as early as possible, ideally within 72 hours of the rash appearing.
Antiviral Tablets
Prescription antiviral medications stop the virus from multiplying, which helps ease and reduce the duration of symptoms. Common antiviral treatments are Aciclovir, Valaciclovir, and Famciclovir.
Once approved, you can access prescription medications through our online shingles clinic after consulting with one of our licensed pharmacists. Early treatment with antivirals can also help reduce the risk of developing complications.
Pain Relief Medications
Managing pain is an important part of shingles treatment. Over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce discomfort and inflammation. Your GP or pharmacist may recommend stronger prescription pain medications for more severe pain.
Some people may also benefit from topical pain relief options, which can be applied directly to the affected area to provide localised comfort during healing.
