Shingles
Overview
Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash. Get advice from a pharmacist or NHS 111 as soon as possible if you think you have it.
Symptoms
The first signs of shingles can be: a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skina headache or feeling generally unwell A rash will usually appear a few days later. In rare cases shingles can cause pain without a rash. Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals. The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on 1 side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles. If you have shingles there are things you can do to help with the symptoms. takeparacetamolto ease pain takeparacetamolto ease pain keep the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection keep the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection wear loose-fitting clothing wear loose-fitting clothing use a cool compress (a bag of ice cubes or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, or a wet cloth) a few times a day use a cool compress (a bag of ice cubes or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, or a wet cloth) a few times a day do not let dressings or plasters stick to the rash do not let dressings or plasters stick to the rash do not wear clothes with rough fibres that can irritate your skin do not wear clothes with rough fibres that can irritate your skin
Causes
You cannot get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox. But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before. When people get chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someone's immune system is weakened. This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.
Treatment
Treatment for shingles depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you're at risk of complications. If you have a mild rash you may not need any treatment. You may be offered medicine (antiviral tablets) to help speed up your recovery from shingles if: you have a weakened immune systemyour pain or your rash is moderate or severethe rash is affecting other areas of your body apart from your chest, tummy and back You usually need to start taking the medicine within 3 days of your rash first appearing. Treatment for shingles can also include medicines to help relieve pain, such as painkillers, steroid tablets or medicines that help with nerve pain. If you have shingles there are things you can do to help with the symptoms. takeparacetamolto ease pain takeparacetamolto ease pain keep the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection keep the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection wear loose-fitting clothing wear loose-fitting clothing use a cool compress (a bag of ice cubes or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, or a wet cloth) a few times a day use a cool compress (a bag of ice cubes or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, or a wet cloth) a few times a day do not let dressings or plasters stick to the rash do not let dressings or plasters stick to the rash do not wear clothes with rough fibres that can irritate your skin do not wear clothes with rough fibres that can irritate your skin
Prevention
Shingles vaccine (for over 70s).
When to see a doctor
See GP if: you think you have shingles (especially if rash is near eyes).