What is shingles?

Shingles, is also known as herpes zoster, is a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles.

Patients 50+ years old

As you get older your risk of shingles can increase. Shingles is most common in people 50 years and older and in those with a compromised immune system.

What are the possible complications of shingles?

Whilst most people can recover fully, some people may experience complications such as post-shingles nerve pain also known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The risk of post-shingles nerve pain increases as you get older.

People with post-shingles nerve pain can experience persistent nerve pain for months or years in the same area where they had the shingles rash, even after the rash clears. It can be more severe and common in older people.