Symptoms of Adult Shingles
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a condition most common among people over age 50. It is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, meaning that anyone who has ever had chickenpox is at risk of contracting shingles. But the symptoms of shingles are quite different from those of chickenpox.
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Location
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Shingles most typically occur on one side of the body only. The rash may start on the side of the back and wrap around to the front of the body, stopping at the breastbone. Sometimes it occurs in the eye and neck area.
Appearance
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Shingles appears as a red rash, including blisters which are filled with fluid. It will likely be painful and sometimes itchy.
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Pattern
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Because shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, it appears along the nerves where the chickenpox virus has been lying dormant. It will generally show up in bands or belts along the path of particular nerves.
Symptoms
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Besides its characteristic appearance, shingles is notable for the tingling, burning and aching pain it can cause. Other symptoms can include fever, chills, abdominal pain and headache.
Timeframe
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Pain is the first symptoms of shingles, followed by pus-filled blisters that form scabs within two weeks. Two to three weeks later, the scabs fall off. You may be left with scarring.
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