SHINGLES



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=**SHINGLES**=

WHAT ARE SHINGLES?
Shingles is a blister like skin disease due to the varicella-zoster virus, also known as the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles are caused mainly after the virus becomes active again in these nerves many years later. They don't really know the reason as to why the virus comes back active but they do know that the skin disease only attacks once. Shingles develop more likely if: 1. You are older than 60 2. You had chickenpox before age 1 3. Your immune system is weaked by medications or disease But shingles can occur in any age group. If another person has direct contact with the shingles rash on someone and has not had chickenpox as a child or a chickenpox vaccine, they can develop chickenpox, rather than shingles.

SYMPTOMS
The first symptom is usually one-sided pain, tingling, or burning. The pain and burning is usually present before any rash appears. Red patches on the skin, small blisters. The blisters then break, this causes small ulcers that begin to dry and form crusts. The crusts fall off in 2 to 3 weeks. The rash usually forms from the spine around to the front of the middle of your stomach area or chest. In some cases the rash may involve face, eyes, mouth, and ears.

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