Shingles is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus can remain dormant in the body after a person has had chickenpox, and it can reactivate later in life to cause shingles. Symptoms of shingles include a painful rash, fever, chills, and fatigue. There is no cure for shingles, but antiviral medications can help to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Avoiding shingles is important because it can be a very painful and debilitating condition.
There are several things that people can do to reduce their risk of developing shingles, including: