What few people know is that this condition can appear unexpectedly, even many years after having had chickenpox. Shingles is directly related to the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox.
When a person recovers from this illness, the virus doesn’t disappear completely. It actually remains dormant in the nervous system, where it can stay latent for decades without causing any problems.
In some circumstances, the virus can reactivate and manifest itself again, but this time in the form of shingles. Specialists point out that this reactivation usually occurs when the immune system weakens.
Factors that can influence this include the natural aging of the body, prolonged periods of stress, diseases that affect the immune system, medical treatments that weaken the immune system, and intense physical or emotional fatigue.
One of the most curious aspects of shingles is that the first symptoms are not always obvious.
Before the characteristic rash appears, some people may experience burning or pain in a specific area of the body, tingling, skin hypersensitivity, and localized discomfort.
When the disease fully manifests, a rash of clustered blisters typically appears on one side of the body. This occurs because the virus reactivates along a specific nerve. Therefore, the lesions follow a localized pattern rather than appearing all over the body.
A complication that many are unaware of
In most cases, shingles resolves favorably with medical treatment. However, if left untreated, a complication called postherpetic neuralgia can develop.
It is a persistent pain that can continue for months or even years after the rash disappears, affecting the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
Is shingles contagious?
A person with shingles does not directly transmit the virus, but can transmit the varicella-zoster virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or is not vaccinated.
