Shingles is a type of viral infection also known as herpes zoster. The fundamental cause of this infection is the varicella-zoster virus, which is a similar trigger for chickenpox. Despite recovering from the chickenpox infection, the viruses can remain in the nervous system for several years. This is before they reactivate as shingles.
Typically, shingles is associated with a red skin rash that may result in pain, inflammation, or burning. This infection also manifests as a line of blisters on a single section of the body, mainly the torso, face, and neck. Fortunately, shingles rarely develop more than once in a person and most cases clear up after two or three weeks.
It is thought that zoster is caused by the immune system's inability to manage the virus's latent replication. The occurrence of herpes zoster is significantly linked to one's immunological condition. Individuals with a high degree of immunity are less likely to acquire shingles. The virus is not harmless and can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Even after herpes zoster has healed, many individuals experience moderate to severe pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia.