Outlook

Most cases of shingles go away by themselves with or without treatment. The rash and pain should be gone in two to three weeks. However, shingles may last longer and be more likely to recur if you are older, especially older than 50 years, or have a serious medical problem.

• Pain may last after the rash is gone. This is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). About 10%-20% of all shingles patients get PHN. The older the patient, the more likely they will develop PHN, and the pain that develops frequently is severe. PHN pain often lasts months and occasionally may go on for years.



• Other possible complications include a bacterial skin infection, spread of infection to internal organs of the body, or eye damage. Scarring is common.



• About 10%-25% of patients with shingles develop eye involvement. This is termed herpes zoster ophthalmicus and may involve several eye structures. The disease can lead to blindness of the eye and should be considered a medical emergency. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a variation of this infection that involves the facial nerves and results in facial paralysis, usually on one side of the face.

Synonyms and Keywords

shingles, zoster, herpes zoster, herpes zoster virus, chicken pox, chickenpox, chicken pox virus, chickenpox virus, varicella-zoster virus, varicella zoster virus, VZV, HHV-3, postherpetic neuralgia, PHN, shingles symptoms, symptoms of shingles, reactivation of herpes zoster virus, reactivation of VZV, reactivation of varicella zoster virus, shingles vaccine, Zostavax

References

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr57e0515a1.htm?s_cid=rr57e0515_e

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vac-faqs.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5705a1.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/ramsay_hunt_syndrome/article.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles_picture_slideshow/article.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm

Santee, J.A. Corticosteroids for herpes zoster: What do they accomplish? Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3(8):517-24.

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