what is the cause of shingles
1 Shingles in caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox-varicella-zoster virus. 2  Shingles is a painful infection of the nerve supplying an area of skin and is accompanied by a localised skin rash.3  Older people and those with a weakened immune system are at greater risk for developing shingles. Shingles is a painful infection of the nerve supplying an area of skin and is accompanied by a localised skin rash. 2  Older people and those with a weakened immune system are at greater risk for developing shingles. 3  Symptoms that accompany shingles may include headache, fever, nausea and body aches.