AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Shingles

Ruth, a 79-year-old woman, said her 

case of shingles was causing her so 

much pain she couldn’t bear to put 

on her clothes or have sheets touch her 

skin. Ruth was sick for several months. 

Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles 

made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and 

she had some discomfort. But she was 

back to her old self in a few weeks. Sarah 

noted, “Having shingles wasn’t so bad.” 

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a disease that affects 

nerves and results in pain and 

blisters in adults. It is caused by 

the same varicella-zoster virus 

that causes 

chickenpox. 

After you 

recover from 

chickenpox, 

the virus 

does not leave 

your body, but continues to live in 

some nerve cells. For reasons that 

aren’t totally understood, the virus 

can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it’s activated, it 

produces shingles. 

Just like chickenpox, people 

with shingles will feel sick and have 

a rash on their body or face. The 

major difference is that chickenpox 

is a childhood illness, while shingles 

targets older people. Most adults live 

with the virus in their body and never 

get shingles. But about one in five 

people who have had chickenpox 

will get shingles later in life—usually 

after the age of 50. 

When the activated virus travels 

along the path of a nerve to the 

surface of the skin, a rash will 

appear. It usually shows up as a 

band on one side of the face or 

body. The word “shingles” comes 

from the Latin word for belt or 

girdle because often the rash is 

shaped like a belt. 

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with the varicella-zoster virus 

in their body can be at risk for getting 

shingles. Right now there is no way 

of knowing who will get the disease. 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Shingles

Ruth, a 79-year-old woman, said her 

case of shingles was causing her so 

much pain she couldn’t bear to put 

on her clothes or have sheets touch her 

skin. Ruth was sick for several months. 

Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles 

made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and 

she had some discomfort. But she was 

back to her old self in a few weeks. Sarah 

noted, “Having shingles wasn’t so bad.” 

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a disease that affects 

nerves and results in pain and 

blisters in adults. It is caused by 

the same varicella-zoster virus 

that causes 

chickenpox. 

After you 

recover from 

chickenpox, 

the virus 

does not leave 

your body, but continues to live in 

some nerve cells. For reasons that 

aren’t totally understood, the virus 

can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it’s activated, it 

produces shingles. 

Just like chickenpox, people 

with shingles will feel sick and have 

a rash on their body or face. The 

major difference is that chickenpox 

is a childhood illness, while shingles 

targets older people. Most adults live 

with the virus in their body and never 

get shingles. But about one in five 

people who have had chickenpox 

will get shingles later in life—usually 

after the age of 50. 

When the activated virus travels 

along the path of a nerve to the 

surface of the skin, a rash will 

appear. It usually shows up as a 

band on one side of the face or 

body. The word “shingles” comes 

from the Latin word for belt or 

girdle because often the rash is 

shaped like a belt. 

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with the varicella-zoster virus 

in their body can be at risk for getting 

shingles. Right now there is no way 

of knowing who will get the disease. 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Shingles

Ruth, a 79-year-old woman, said her 

case of shingles was causing her so 

much pain she couldn’t bear to put 

on her clothes or have sheets touch her 

skin. Ruth was sick for several months. 

Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles 

made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and 

she had some discomfort. But she was 

back to her old self in a few weeks. Sarah 

noted, “Having shingles wasn’t so bad.” 

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a disease that affects 

nerves and results in pain and 

blisters in adults. It is caused by 

the same varicella-zoster virus 

that causes 

chickenpox. 

After you 

recover from 

chickenpox, 

the virus 

does not leave 

your body, but continues to live in 

some nerve cells. For reasons that 

aren’t totally understood, the virus 

can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it’s activated, it 

produces shingles. 

Just like chickenpox, people 

with shingles will feel sick and have 

a rash on their body or face. The 

major difference is that chickenpox 

is a childhood illness, while shingles 

targets older people. Most adults live 

with the virus in their body and never 

get shingles. But about one in five 

people who have had chickenpox 

will get shingles later in life—usually 

after the age of 50. 

When the activated virus travels 

along the path of a nerve to the 

surface of the skin, a rash will 

appear. It usually shows up as a 

band on one side of the face or 

body. The word “shingles” comes 

from the Latin word for belt or 

girdle because often the rash is 

shaped like a belt. 

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with the varicella-zoster virus 

in their body can be at risk for getting 

shingles. Right now there is no way 

of knowing who will get the disease. 
7 8 

The older you are when you get 

shingles, the greater your chance of 

developing PHN. This pain can last 

for weeks, months, or even years. 

“I’ve had post-herpetic neuralgia 

for nine months,” said Pete, an 

80-year-old man. “I’ve lost 20 

pounds. I can’t find anything 

that helps with the pain.”

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and 

weight loss. Some people 

with PHN find it hard 

to go about their 

daily activities 

like dressing, 

cooking, and 

eating. Talk 

to your doctor 

if you have any of 

these problems. 

There are medicines 

that may help. Usually 

PHN will get better over time.

What Are Other Complications? 

In some cases, blisters can become 

infected. Scarring of the skin may 

result. Your doctor can prescribe 

an antibiotic treatment. Keep the 

area clean, and try not to scratch! 

There are other problems to 

watch for. If blisters occur near or 

in the eye, lasting eye damage or 

blindness may result. This can be 

very serious. See an eye doctor 

right away. 

Other problems may include 

hearing loss or a brief paralysis of 

the face. In a small number of cases, 

swelling of the brain (encephalitis) 

can occur. It’s very important to go 

to the doctor as soon as possible—

especially if you have blisters on 

your face.

Can You Catch Shingles?

No, shingles is not contagious. 

You can’t catch shingles from someone who has it. But you can catch 

chickenpox from someone with 

shingles. So, if you’ve never had 

chickenpox, try to stay away from 

anyone who has shingles. 

Flo, a 77-year-old woman notes, 

“My daughter stayed away 

when I had shingles. She’d 

never had chickenpox and 

didn’t want to risk catching 

it. Good thing my sister lived 

nearby and could help me 

during those first few weeks.” 
7 8 

The older you are when you get 

shingles, the greater your chance of 

developing PHN. This pain can last 

for weeks, months, or even years. 

“I’ve had post-herpetic neuralgia 

for nine months,” said Pete, an 

80-year-old man. “I’ve lost 20 

pounds. I can’t find anything 

that helps with the pain.”

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and 

weight loss. Some people 

with PHN find it hard 

to go about their 

daily activities 

like dressing, 

cooking, and 

eating. Talk 

to your doctor 

if you have any of 

these problems. 

There are medicines 

that may help. Usually 

PHN will get better over time.

What Are Other Complications? 

In some cases, blisters can become 

infected. Scarring of the skin may 

result. Your doctor can prescribe 

an antibiotic treatment. Keep the 

area clean, and try not to scratch! 

There are other problems to 

watch for. If blisters occur near or 

in the eye, lasting eye damage or 

blindness may result. This can be 

very serious. See an eye doctor 

right away. 

Other problems may include 

hearing loss or a brief paralysis of 

the face. In a small number of cases, 

swelling of the brain (encephalitis) 

can occur. It’s very important to go 

to the doctor as soon as possible—

especially if you have blisters on 

your face.

Can You Catch Shingles?

No, shingles is not contagious. 

You can’t catch shingles from someone who has it. But you can catch 

chickenpox from someone with 

shingles. So, if you’ve never had 

chickenpox, try to stay away from 

anyone who has shingles. 

Flo, a 77-year-old woman notes, 

“My daughter stayed away 

when I had shingles. She’d 

never had chickenpox and 

didn’t want to risk catching 

it. Good thing my sister lived 

nearby and could help me 

during those first few weeks.” 
7 8 

The older you are when you get 

shingles, the greater your chance of 

developing PHN. This pain can last 

for weeks, months, or even years. 

“I’ve had post-herpetic neuralgia 

for nine months,” said Pete, an 

80-year-old man. “I’ve lost 20 

pounds. I can’t find anything 

that helps with the pain.”

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and 

weight loss. Some people 

with PHN find it hard 

to go about their 

daily activities 

like dressing, 

cooking, and 

eating. Talk 

to your doctor 

if you have any of 

these problems. 

There are medicines 

that may help. Usually 

PHN will get better over time.

What Are Other Complications? 

In some cases, blisters can become 

infected. Scarring of the skin may 

result. Your doctor can prescribe 

an antibiotic treatment. Keep the 

area clean, and try not to scratch! 

There are other problems to 

watch for. If blisters occur near or 

in the eye, lasting eye damage or 

blindness may result. This can be 

very serious. See an eye doctor 

right away. 

Other problems may include 

hearing loss or a brief paralysis of 

the face. In a small number of cases, 

swelling of the brain (encephalitis) 

can occur. It’s very important to go 

to the doctor as soon as possible—

especially if you have blisters on 

your face.

Can You Catch Shingles?

No, shingles is not contagious. 

You can’t catch shingles from someone who has it. But you can catch 

chickenpox from someone with 

shingles. So, if you’ve never had 

chickenpox, try to stay away from 

anyone who has shingles. 

Flo, a 77-year-old woman notes, 

“My daughter stayed away 

when I had shingles. She’d 

never had chickenpox and 

didn’t want to risk catching 

it. Good thing my sister lived 

nearby and could help me 

during those first few weeks.”