Do I Have Shingles?

Do you have pain, burning, or tingling on one side your body (usually torso) that occurs in small patches?

Do you have a rash that appears as a single stripe of blisters on one side of your torso (your back or chest)?

Do you have fluid-filled blisters on your skin that break open and crust over?

Do you have severe itching or burning in the affected area?

Do you have increase sensitivity to touch (you cannot bear the touch of clothing on the affected skin)?

Do you have a rash that appears on your face, near your eye or ear?

Do you have pigmentation changes and scarring on the skin?

Do you have fever or chills?

Do you have a headache?

Do you have sensitivity to bright light (photophobia)?

Do you feel fatigued or have muscle weakness?

Do you know if you ever had chickenpox?

Do you use steroids, such as prednisone for a long period of time?

Do you have weak immune system due to a chronic illness such as HIV or cancer, or your treatment plan includes radiation or chemotherapy?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have shingles. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella). If you had chickenpox as a child, you can develop shingles later in life. Once you have recovered from chickenpox, the virus remains in your body and years later it can be reactivated as shingles. Shingles is common in people with weak immune system and older adults. It represents a painful rash that usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of your torso. Although, very painful, shingles is not life-threatening and can be prevented with vaccination.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have shingles. Shingles or herpes zoster is a painful skin rash that appears on one side of your body or your face. It is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The rash usually occurs in a single stripe that wraps around one side of your torso. If the rash appears on your face it can seriously damage your vision. Sometimes, the rash can be spread all over your body and look similar to a chickenpox rash. Shingles lasts from two to six weeks, and some people can get shingles more than once in their life.

n Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have shingles. Shingles is a medical condition characterized by a painful skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Anybody who had chickenpox in the past can develop shingles. Shingles cannot be cured, but timely treatment with antiviral medications can promote healing and lower the risk of complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (shingles pain that lasts after the blister have cleared), vision loss, inflammation of the brain, facial paralysis, hearing or balance problems and skin infections. Shingles can cause intense pain, so your doctor may also prescribe painkillers.