Burning pain, intense tingling, or a localized blister rash on one side of the body? Shingles is a painful viral infection primarily affecting people over 50 and requiring prompt antiviral treatment to limit symptom duration and severity. At Virtuel MD, our CMQ-certified physicians evaluate your symptoms via video and quickly prescribe the appropriate treatment. All without travel or clinic waiting times.
See a doctor today as antiviral treatment is most effective within the first 72 hours of symptom onset.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After an initial chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve ganglia. Years or even decades later, it can reactivate and cause shingles.
How does shingles develop?
When the immune system weakens with age, stress, or illness, the virus can reactivate and travel along nerves to the skin, causing a characteristic painful rash. Shingles always follows the path of a specific nerve and therefore appears on only one side of the body in a band or arc.
The most frequently affected areas:
The trunk is the area most often affected, with a band of painful blisters around the chest or abdomen. The face can be affected, particularly the area around an eye in ophthalmic zoster, a severe form that can affect vision. Less commonly, the neck, arms, or legs can be affected.
Risk factors:
Advanced age, an immune system weakened by illness or immunosuppressive treatment, intense chronic stress, and lack of vaccination against shingles are the main factors increasing the risk of viral reactivation.
Important to know:
Antiviral treatment is significantly more effective when started within the first 72 hours after the rash appears. Do not delay seeking medical attention. A common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, a persistent nerve pain that can last for months after the rash heals, particularly in older adults.
Our Virtuel MD doctors can assess your symptoms via video and quickly prescribe the appropriate antiviral treatment, with no travel required.
Intense, burning, or electric pain localized on one side of the body, appearing 2 to 4 days before the skin rash. This phase can be mistaken for muscle pain or neuralgia.
Appearance of small blisters filled with clear fluid, grouped in a band or arc on one side of the body, following the path of a nerve. They resemble chickenpox but are localized.
Sensation of tingling, prickling, or intense skin hypersensitivity to touch, even from the light contact of clothing, in the affected area.
General symptoms like mild fever, headaches, and fatigue can accompany the rash, particularly at the beginning of the infection.
Intense nerve pain persisting for several weeks or months after blister healing, a sign of postherpetic neuralgia requiring medical follow-up.
Find essential information about shingles in our FAQ. For targeted treatment tailored to your condition, consult a doctor online today.
Shingles itself is not contagious. However, a person with shingles can transmit the chickenpox virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or is not vaccinated, through direct contact with the blisters. It is advisable to avoid contact with pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals during the active phase.
Yes, although rare, it is possible to get shingles more than once. The shingles vaccine is recommended even for people who have already had the disease to reduce the risk of recurrence and postherpetic neuralgia.
This is the most common complication of shingles. It manifests as persistent nerve pain in the affected area, which can last for months or even years after the rash has healed. It is more common in people over 60 years old. Early treatment of shingles significantly reduces the risk of developing this complication.
Yes, the Shingrix vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older, even if they have already had shingles. It significantly reduces the risk of developing shingles and its complications. Our doctors can advise you on vaccination during your appointment.
The rash typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Pain may persist longer, particularly in older individuals. With prompt antiviral treatment, the duration and severity of symptoms are significantly reduced.
An online medical consultation with Virtuel MD starts at $139$. Our doctors evaluate your symptoms via video and quickly prescribe the appropriate antiviral treatment, all from the comfort of your home.
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