o Shingles is a skin rash that is caused by the same virus that causes the chickenpox and lives in the body after a person has had them. o Commonly called the Varicella Zoster Virus.

o Commonly occurs in people over the age of 60 and people under emotional stress, with an immune deficiency, or with cancer.

o Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus which remains in a persons body after they have had the chickenpox. It can also be spread from person to person.

oThere may not be a visible rash for the first week or so but then small blisters may appear. The affected area will eventually crust over and heal. The whole process takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

o Symptoms that may occur include headache, sensitivity to light, flu like symptoms without a fever, itching, tingling, pain where a rash appears and later blisters or scabs may form.

o Do not scratch the skin, it may increase risk of bacterial infection. o Place a cool, damp rag on the blisters to keep them from drying out. o A pain medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen is often used to relieve pain. oDoctors may prescribe antiviral medicines such as acyclovic or famciclovir.

o Bacterial infection can occur if the skin is not kept clean or blisters are scratched open. o Eye damage or loss of eye sight can occur if the shingles spreads near the eyes such as on the nose or forehead.

o Other complications include hearing loss, scarring, muscle weakness, and postherpetic neuralgia.

ohttp://health.yahoo.com/infectiousdisease-symptoms/shingles-symptoms/healthwise--aa29607.html

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

ohttp://www.shinglesinfo.com/complications-of-shingles.html

ohttp://www.emedicinehealth.com/shingles/page6_em.htm