What are the symptoms of Shingles?

The first sign of shingles usually is a tingling feeling or itchiness of the skin, which can occur up to 1 week before the rash. Some people have stabbing pain at the beginning, but others have pain only after the rash begins.

When the rash is worst, the pain may be extremely severe. Before the rash comes out, some people are misdiagnosed as having a heart condition or gallbladder attack because of the pain.

The rash begins as a band or patch of raised dots on one side of the trunk, face, abdomen, arms, or legs. The location of the rash is a clue that the infection is shingles. The rash occurs on only one side of the body, like a band or belt. (The word shingles comes from a Latin word meaning belt or girdle, and zoster is Greek for belt.)

The most common sites of shingles are on one side of the chest (front or back, like half of a belt) and on one side of the forehead and scalp. If a person gets herpes zoster in the forehead region, an emergency evaluation with an ophthalmologist is crucial, since the infection can at times cause serious eye problems.

After a few days, the spots become blisters filled with fluid. When the blisters dry out and crust, within 2 weeks, they no longer contain the virus.

A typical case of shingles lasts about a month. However, the pain associated with herpes zoster may continue for months or years in people who develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)

See also...

Cause of Shingles

Treatment for Shingles

Zoster Herpes

Pictures of Shingles

Is Shingles Contagious

Shingles Help.com