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A guide to what shingles is, who is most at risk, how to recognise the symptoms, and how vaccination can help protect your health.
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash, usually affecting one side of the body or face. It develops when the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox — becomes active again later in life. Most people experience shingles only once, although it is possible to develop it more than once.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. Anyone who has previously had chickenpox carries this virus within their body, even if they recovered many years ago. The risk of reactivation appears to increase when the immune system becomes less effective at keeping the virus under control.
Although these factors may increase risk, shingles can sometimes occur without any obvious trigger.
While anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles, some people are at greater risk than others. The risk of shingles and its complications generally increases with age — which is one of the reasons vaccination becomes particularly important for older adults.
Shingles often begins before the rash appears. Early symptoms may precede the rash by several days and can be easy to mistake for other conditions.
Early symptoms may include:
After a few days, a rash usually develops — typically on one side of the body in a band or strip pattern, forming into fluid-filled blisters that can be painful or itchy. The chest and abdomen are commonly affected, although shingles can occur almost anywhere on the body, including the face and around the eyes. Most cases improve within a few weeks, but some people experience longer-lasting symptoms.
Many people recover from shingles without long-term problems, but complications can occur. One of the most common is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) — nerve pain that can continue for months or even years after the rash has healed. The likelihood of complications tends to increase with age.
Reducing the risk of shingles through vaccination can also help reduce the risk of these complications.
Although it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of shingles, vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of developing the condition. Even people who consider themselves healthy may benefit from vaccination if they fall within the recommended age groups.
The shingles vaccine helps strengthen the immune system’s ability to control the varicella-zoster virus. By boosting the body’s immune response, the vaccine reduces the chance of the dormant virus reactivating and causing shingles. Current shingles vaccines have been shown to provide strong protection against both shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.
While no vaccine can guarantee complete protection, vaccination significantly reduces the risk of developing shingles and its associated complications. The vaccine is administered as an injection and is generally well tolerated.
These symptoms are usually short-lived and resolve without treatment.
Vaccination is most effective when given before shingles develops — many people only begin thinking about it after hearing about someone who has experienced the condition, but it is worth considering sooner rather than later.
If you’re unsure whether the shingles vaccine is suitable for you, our pharmacy team can discuss your eligibility and help you understand your options.
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