Shingles is an infection of a nerve area, so the associated pain and rash will run along a band of skin supplied by the affected nerve.
The pain is due to infection of the nerve caused by the virus. This pain can range from tingling to very severe pain.
A rash will develop within 5 days from the start of the pain. The rash will look similar to a chickenpox rash, except a shingles rash is only found on one area of the body (it runs in a band along nerve supply).
The rash could form as a band around your rib cage, abdomen, face or forehead, or down an arm or a leg (although this is less common). Spots will appear and then turn into blisters, which will dry up to form a crust or scab over the top.
Complications
- The pain caused by shingles can persist for many weeks or even months. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.
- Blisters can become further infected, which could be severe and lead to scarring.
If you have shingles on your face or forehead, the cornea of your eye can also be damaged.
If you have any of these symptoms, and have had chickenpox before, see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Notifiable disease
Shingles is a notifiable disease. This means doctors, hospitals and laboratories must inform the Department of Health of your diagnosis to assist the Department in determining the frequency of this infection in the community. Notification is confidential.