What symptoms appear with shingles infection? We’ll also let you know whether it is contagious

Shingles is a condition that can happen to anyone, but if it is recognized early and properly managed, aftereffects can be reduced. It is not just a skin condition; it is also related to the nerves, so if pain continues or there are suspicious symptoms, it is necessary to have the condition checked through a medical examination with a healthcare professional rather than judging it on your own.

What kind of condition is shingles?

Shingles is a condition that can suddenly appear when fatigue and stress build up, even in people who were previously healthy. Most people had chickenpox as children, and the varicella-zoster virus remains in the body. This virus hides in the nerve ganglia and becomes active again when immunity drops, causing pain and a rash on the skin and recurring as shingles. It mainly appears in middle-aged and older adults over 50, but recently the incidence has also been rising among people in their 30s and 40s who are overworked and under a lot of stress. The risk of infection is also higher in people with weakened immune function, such as those with cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases.

If you see these symptoms, the chances of shingles are high

Symptoms of shingles begin with pain along a nerve. In the early stage, the body may ache like a cold, or fatigue may appear, and the skin in the affected area may feel hot, stinging, or painful. During this period, there may be no obvious rash, so it is easy to mistake it for simple muscle pain. Then after 2 to 3 days, red spots and small blisters appear on the skin in the painful area, and the blisters characteristically spread in a band along the nerve. They generally appear on only one side of the body, most often on the chest, face, waist, arms, or legs. The pain can feel very severe, and some people describe it as hurting even when the collar of clothing touches the skin or when only a breeze passes by.

If symptoms worsen, the pain may continue to the point where sleep becomes difficult and daily life is hard. In some cases, postherpetic neuralgia can occur, in which pain remains for a long time even after the rash disappears. It is especially common in older adults and people with diabetes, and if treatment is delayed, the pain can last for months or longer.

Is shingles contagious?

Shingles has limited person-to-person transmissibility, but caution is still needed. The blisters that form in patients with shingles contain the varicella virus, which can cause chickenpox in people with weak immunity or in those who have never had chickenpox. However, it does not spread as shingles to people who have already had chickenpox. Therefore, it is best to avoid directly touching the rash area or sharing towels, clothing, or similar items.

If you get the shingles vaccination

When shingles is suspected, it is important to receive medical care early and begin treatment. In general, antiviral medication is commonly used to suppress viral replication. If the pain is severe, medication or physical therapy to relieve neuralgia may also be used together. Since early treatment is important for shingles, it is said that treatment should be received within 72 hours after symptoms begin. The recovery speed and duration of pain may vary depending on the timing of treatment and the individual's immune status.

For prevention, above all, lifestyle habits that maintain immunity are important. Adequate sleep, regular meals, and stress management are basic, and vaccination can also help. The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older, and it is known that a single shot can maintain immunity for a long period of time. Even people who have already had shingles may have a chance of recurrence, so it is a good idea to consider vaccination after a certain period of time.