Shingles pain can feel like electric shocks, burning, or intense itching. A blistering rash usually appears on one side of the body. You may also experience other symptoms, such as chills, a fever, an upset stomach, or headache. ^3-6

You are at risk for shingles if you:

• Are 50 years or older. Because the immune system naturally weakens as you age, it can increase your risk, despite how healthy you may feel.¹
• Already had chickenpox. Over 90% of adults over 50 already carry the virus that causes shingles, and 1 in 3 people will develop it in their lifetime.^2,7
• Are taking immunosuppressive therapies or have specific underlying conditions such as cancer, transplant, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or diabetes mellitus.^8–12

It’s rarely life-threatening but can be life-altering. Shingles pain can negatively impact your everyday plans, appointments, and time with family and friends — all these things can be affected when you’re struggling with shingles pain.^12,13

While most people recover fully, some people may experience complications. These can include:

• Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN): Nerve pain that persists after the shingles rash has healed, which can last for months or years in the same area as the rash.¹⁴
• Ophthalmic disease: Vision complications can occur for some people with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), a shingles rash that appears around the eye or nose.¹⁵
• Hearing problems and altered balance: In rare cases, the shingles virus can reactivate in the hearing system, leading to herpes zoster oticus. Symptoms include hearing impairment, vertigo, tinnitus, severe facial pain, and facial paralysis (Ramsay Hunt syndrome).¹⁶

1.Mayo Clinic;2019;1-4: Shingles(v1.0)Shingles Overview Symptoms Causes Risks factors Complications Prevention.2.Bollaerts K;Epidemiologyandinfection;2017;145:2666-2677(v1.0) A systematic review of varicella seroprevalence in European countries before universal childhood immunization:deriving incidence from seroprevalencedata.3.Harpaz 2008(V1.0) CDCMMWR Prevention of Herpes Zoster. 4. Gov.UK;2021;1- 16:28a Shingles (herpes zoster) (v1.6). 5. Medicalnewstoday;2018;1-13;Whattoexpect when you have shingles. 6. Yawn B;Neurology;2013;81;1-209(v1.0) The global epidemiology of herpes zoster. 7. Brisson M:Epidemiology and infection;2001;127;305-314 (v1.0) Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom. 8. Chen SY;Infection; 2014:42;325-334, (KC)(v1.0)Incidence of herpes zoster in patients with altered immune function. 9. Yang YW;CMAJ;2011;183;E275-E280(v1.0) Risk of herpes zoster among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based study. 10. Kwon HJ;Jallergy Clin Immunol;2016;137;1406-1412. 11. Wolfe F;Rheumatology;2006;45;1370-1375. 12. Herpes Zoster: Postherpetic Neuralgia and Other Complications;Chapter11 ;Drolet M;2017;119-140. 13. CDC;2019;1-15;Clinical Overview (v1.0). 14. NCIRS;2022; 1-17;Zoster vaccines for Australian adults (v1.0). 15. Kedar S;Journal of Neuro- Ophthalmology;2019;39;220-231 (v1.0) Neurological and Ophthalmological Manifestations of Varicella Zoster Virus. 16. Cohen BE; Trends in Hearing;2014;18; 1-28 (v1.0) Viral Causes of Hearing Loss_ A Review of Hearing Health Professionals. 17. Kawai K;BMJ Open;2014;e004833.