Conditions
Shingles
Shingles is a skin rash that is caused by the chickenpox virus, and is part of the herpes family of viruses. It can occur in anyone who has previously suffered from chickenpox, and involves the herpes zoster virus being reactivated as a result of emotional stress, some cancer treatments and immune deficiency. It can lead to outbreaks of puss filled blisters along the skin, often accompanied by a burning pain. Normally the condition lasts around 3 weeks, but sometimes longer. The blisters will eventually burst and crust over, but until that occurs the sufferer will be extremely contagious and can spread the condition to others. Antiviral drugs can be administered to reduce the severity and duration of the rash, but often treatment can just take the form of anti-itching lotions and washing of the affected area.
Comments and Questions
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
I am 26 years old and have been diagonsed with shingles. I have a rash on my side and thrush down below. My immune system is not low and I do not feel stressed. Is this normal or should I take my diagnosis further?
i have been diagnosed with shingles but i have got no rash just very sensitive skin am i still infectious to others
My son, who is 11, is now having his 7th episode of shingles. They were confirmed as shingles by skin scrapings & biopsies, as the doctors & dermatologists said they couldn't be & didn't look like shingles. Also he gets them in various body parts in one outbreak, which I know is unusual. He has been tested for HIV & screened by immunologists yet no-one can find a reason for the recurrent outbreaks. He is on 800mg Aciclovir 4x's a day for 2 weeks then a prophylactic dose of 400mg twice a day indefinitely. He has an already complex medical history - bilateral CDH (required tenotomies, closed then open reduction, and finally bilateral femoral osteotomies), Ehlers-Danlos (Hypermobility type), Phimosis (req'd circumcision), Undescended testes, Inguinal hernia, Asthma, Recurrent acute croup attacks, Eczema, Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scoliosis, Leg-length discrepancy, Dyspraxia. The recurrent shingles doesn't cause him a great amount of ill-health but he misses more school & we are virtually housebound. Obviously I worry about what us causing this, and with all his other medical issues, I'm at my wits end. Any help / advice would be gratefully received.
2 years ago, i woke up with an excruciating pain on the side of my face at my ear and covered in spots in straight lines along my nerves. Went to the doc, said i had a neurological virus and was sent home. Spots eventually went and i started to feel better. Discovered a lump at my ear where it had been sore, was told it was a neuroma, went to ENT for over a year, to eventually be told it was cartilage that had grown due to ear infections. However the pain at my ear never left, was told that if i had had a virus then it probably destroyed my nerve, hence the pain. I have also been to GP to say that i am having a lot of terrible nerve pain since the virus started, she said she didn't know what it was and wouldnt't be bothering either. Since then spots have come back on the nerve in my neck twice, polka straight line and very painful. i am still suffering with extreme nerve pain and wondering why the spots have returned. Is it just a neurological virus that flairs up now and again and has destroyed nerves leaving me with pains?
Hi was not suffering from same condition but keep going back to gp. My ears were really painful one GP thought i was mad said i could not have pains as there was no bone there went to two other GPs last one said she had heard of a condition called Chondritis going back again as she was,nt sure of the spelling and i cant find any think with that spelling so anoying for you
Ted, i have neuralgia at my ear, due to nerve being damaged with a neurological virus, and also have nerve pain all over my body, but my face/ear is trigeminal neuralgia.
I was told I had Herpes,by a Doc,but it turned out to be Shingles,in my private area. I first had it when I was around 10 years old,so that was def not Herpes ! So when I had it in later life I knew that the Doc was wrong & it was another out break os Shingles,I know it is the Herpes virus. I still have outbreaks & I would also be grateful for any more info about how to cut down the number of these 7 to treat them.
I had shingles in the most uncomfortable area ever..vulva and anus. Worst bit is, I didn't know what it was. My Dr woodnt examine me and said it was prob my eczema coming back even tho I told him it wasnt a rash, but ulcers. He gave me a cream which I applied for 2 weeks. It stang so much my eyes watered and I couldnt move for fear of more pain up to 10mins after applying. I eventually seeked a second opinion from a Dr who DID examine me and diagnosed me with shingles. I had been in university everyday up to that day and so couldve passed it to anyone without knowing. She told me that the cream I'd been applying woodve made things worse instead of better and gave me antivirals which cleared it up so quick. Just goes to show, not all Drs will have time for you. If in doubt always seek a seconf opinion
I also had Shingls in the same area,Vulva,anus,vey painful. I am relieved to know that I`m not alone,as the Doctor dianosed me with Herpes,while i know it is a form of Herpes,mine was not sexualy transmitted it was Shingles. It is over two years ago now,but I still get some discomfort in the areas where it was..
Hey when me and my mate went away she come up with the rash full of blisters rightunder were she were's her bra and all on her sholder and we did not no what it was so we went to the docters and they said it was shingels and they gave her this cream and witin a day it was all gone
i have been newly diagnosed with shingles today, first outbreak. i work for the health service as a carer, i will be unable to work for about 2 weeks apparently as the condition is contagious, my worry is that if these re-occurs regularly and i have to keep taking time off work, i'm gonna fall behind with mortgage payments etc. any advice would really be welcome, thanks
hi i had shingles of the iner ear they called it ramsay hunt syndrom very painfull a year on and i am still got some of the simtoms my doctor said it will take time
im 43 and 2 years ago i started getting sores up the left side of my nose and it was painful which broke out in blisters afew times over 8 months,the blisters then started breaking out on the out side of my nose as well as up my nose,so i went to my GP and i was told it was shingles.since the shingles have broken out 4 times in this past year up and on the side of my nose,but i have just had shingles and it also broke out under my eye and on my forhead and seems to spread more evey time i get shingles.but its very painful and gets me down.ive been taking ACICLOVIR for the shigles and GABAPENTIN for the pain.my GP told me that there is no cure and i have been left with scaring on my nose.how can i cope with having to put up with it for the rest of my life........
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here