Shingles is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It’s also known as herpes zoster. This virus damages the nerves in the skin, causing small blisters that are red at first and then clear. A person may also have pain or tingling in the skin before the rash appears.
About 90 percent of shingles cases affect people over 50, but they can also occur in children or adults who’ve never had chickenpox. The risk of shingles increases as a person gets older.
Shingles is different from chickenpox, which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and usually occurs in childhood. The condition can develop at any age but most commonly affects adults between their late teens and early 50s. Other factors that may increase the risk of shingles include a weakened immune system, a medical condition affecting the nerves, or pregnancy.
Now, let’s look at internal shingles’ symptoms.
Body Pain
Shingles pain can be excruciating, and it often begins in the back. The pain may then spread to the chest, shoulders, and other body parts. This is a common symptom of shingles, but not everyone experiences it. Studies show that up to 90 percent of people with shingles experience pain, and 50 percent have severe pain. The pain is typically described as burning, aching, or stabbing and can last several days. Some people also report experiencing nerve pain in their backs where their nerves are affected by the virus.
While some people with shingles experience only one or two areas of intense pain, others experience severe aches for several days or weeks after the rash heals. Shingles is a painful condition that causes a blistering inflammation. In addition, some people have nerve pain after the rash. The pain may be so severe that it interferes with the ability to sleep. The affected person may also experience chills, fever, and headaches. When this happens, they may need to take pain medications and other medicines to help manage the symptoms.
