What is shingles?

My best friend recently had a very bad rash on her face. It was called Shingles. Kindly let me know what this means.

Hauwa (By SMS)

 

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles isn’t life-threatening. But it can be very painful. Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment may shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared. Shingles symptoms usually affect only a small section on one side of your body. These symptoms may include: Pain, burning or tingling, Sensitivity to touch, A red rash that begins a few days after the pain, fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over as well as itching. Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some people, the pain can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for problems with the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash. It is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations: The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead to permanent eye damage. If you’re 50 or older, age increases your risk of complications. You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system. This may be due to cancer, medications or chronic illness as well as when the rash is widespread and painful.

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