The shingles disease rash is due to the virus that remains in the body after chicken pox. It breaks out into painful bumps and blisters. In 2008 the Center for Disease Control has come out with the recommendation that adults over 60 get the zoster vaccine to help prevent the shingles disease if they’ve already had chickenpox as kids. It isn’t just that the shingles rash is very uncomfortable but that it can have complications including blindness in rare cases. In this video, the man interviewed broke out in shingles blisters two weeks before he was supposed to go for his vaccine.

Also because around fifty percent of adults get shingles before their mid-eighties it is a common health risk. The elderly may already be dealing with weakened immune systems due to diabetes, cancer or heart conditions. Because people don’t always take the viral medication after noticing the shingles rash, they may not get relief if post-herpetic neuralgia develops. This is pain in the area of the rash that can continue when the rash is cleared. The vaccine that’s for preventing singles symptoms is supposed to prevent at least fifty percent of new cases that can develop. It may not be appropriate for everyone due to the fact you get the live virus in a small amount in your body. Shingles is also called Herpes Zoster or Zoster and this is different than herpes simplex 1 which is the cold sore on the lip.

Shingles blisters can develop in people due to stress, poor immune system responses or hiv patients. There can be flu-like symptoms and the blisters may be only on one side of the body. People describe the shingles symptoms as both itchy and painful as well as deep in the nerves. If your rash is not just on one side of the body, it’s important to still cosider that you may have a shingles diagnosis. Dr. Una wrote for ContraCostaTimes that seeking medical attention is quite important in order to possibly prevent pain from PNH (post-herpetic neuralgia).

On the whole, shingles strikes people over fifty, though it can occur as a symptom of lymphoma and other forms of cancer. It also can be a problem for those on medications that suppress their immune systems.

Be careful being around kids if you have shingles as it can be contagious and result in chickenpox (not shingles). Some say it is only contagious during the stage when there are rash blisters with clear fluid that haven’t yet crusted over. Because people think that shingles can’t cause shingles in children, they may be physically affectionate with grandkids and unknowingly expose them to chickenpox due to the Varicella Zoster Virus.