Herpes zoster

Updated: 2023-07-25

A viral infection that causes a painful rash, also called shingles.

Overview

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. It isn't known what reactivates the virus.

Symptoms

Most commonly, shingles causes a painful rash that may appear as a stripe of blisters that wraps around the side of the torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around the eye or one side of the neck or face.

Treatments

There is no cure for shingles. Early treatment with prescription antiviral medicine may speed healing and lower the risk of complications. A prescription medicine also may help with pain.

A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. It also can reduce the severity of the disease and lower the risk of a complication called postherpetic neuralgia.