Font Size
A
A
A

Shingles (cont.)

Shingles Causes

No one knows for sure what causes the chickenpox virus to become reactivated to cause shingles. Some investigators suggest that the following conditions may participate in virus reactivation, but this lists only some of the major conditions that may trigger reactivation:

  • stress;


  • fatigue;


  • a weakened immune system (This may be age-related, disease-related, or a drug-related decrease in ability to keep the chickenpox virus in an inactive state.);


  • cancer;


  • radiation treatments;


  • injury of the skin where the rash occurs;
  • and

  • HIV/AIDS.


Next: Shingles Symptoms »

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Shingles - Effective Treatments

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What kinds of treatments have been effective for your shingles?

Anonymously share your comment to help others. Viewer Comments FAQs
See 9 Viewer Comments & Reviews

Submit Your Review


Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Are You Depressed? Take the Quiz


Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Herpes Zoster »

Herpes zoster (shingles) is 1 of 2 distinctive manifestations of human infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the other being varicella (chickenpox).

Read More on eMedicine »

Medical Dictionary