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What are Shingles?

Shingles are characterized by excruciating pain, tingling, numbness and a blistering rash often following the distribution of nerves in the skin, usually on one side of the body, or face.

Shingles - also known as postherpetic neuralgia - is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox - varicella-zoster. The chickenpox virus can remain dormant in the body only to resurface as shingles in later years at times of extreme stress, or if the immune system is compromised because of disease, or during chemotherapy, or steroid treatments.

Unlike chicken pox, shingles are not contagious, however persons with shingles can transmit the virus if the blisters are broken and someone who has never had chickenpox comes in contact with the fluid from the blisters.

Antiviral drugs are used to prevent post-herpetic neuralgia, especially in people older than 50. Most people will find pain relief with acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain medicines, as well as cool compresses on the affected area. Antiviral drugs may also help stave off the painful after-effects of shingles if taken within 48 hours of the rash appearing.

Information obtained from the Wikipedia web site. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.

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