Shingles is a localized infection due to the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It occurs only in people who have had chickenpox in the past and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella virus. Why the virus reactivates in some individuals and not in others is unknown.

Most people who get shingles are more than 50 years old or have a weak immune system. For example, you might get shingles if you have cancer, take medicines that weaken your immune system or have the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Causes of shingles

No one knows for sure what causes the chickenpox virus to become activated to cause shingles. Some possibilities include the following:

Stress
Fatigue
A weakened immune system (This may be age-related, disease-related, or a drug-related decrease in ability to keep the chickenpox virus in an inactive state.)
Cancer
Radiation treatments
Injury of the skin where the rash occurs

Symptoms of shingles

The signs and symptoms of shingles may include:

Pain, burning, tingling, itching, numbness or extreme sensitivity in a certain part of the body
A red rash with fluid-filled blisters that begins a few days after the pain
Fever
Headache
Chills
Upset stomach

Guidelines to get rid of shingles :

Home Treatment

Taking good care of skin sores, such as not scratching blisters and keeping your skin clean.
Using medications as prescribed to treat shingles or postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that lasts for at least 30 days after the shingles rash heals.
Using nonprescription pain medications, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles or ongoing pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia.

Medications

Acyclovir
Tylenol
Treat your rash gently.

Surgery

Surgery for shingles is quite rare and limited to only the most severe and prolonged cases of postherpetic neuralgia, the most common complication of shingles. Postherpetic neuralgia can be an ongoing and debilitating problem, especially for older people, but it usually decreases over time. When all other medical treatments fail to reduce or control pain, you and your health professional may consider surgical options.

Surgery to relieve postherpetic neuralgia interrupts the path of pain signals to the brain by cutting nerves in the skull or spinal column. There are significant risks to this surgery. If surgery is recommended, it is a good idea to get a second opinion before proceeding.

Tips for Preventing shingles :

There is no way to prevent shingles.

You cannot get shingles from someone else with shingles. However, if you have not had chickenpox, you can get chickenpox from close contact with open blisters of someone with shingles. Covering the rash with a dressing or clothing helps decrease the risk of spreading the infection to others.
The VZV vaccine, otherwise known as the chickenpox vaccine, may decrease the incidence of shingles by enhancing the immune system's ability to fight off VZV or keep this virus inactive. Boosters of this vaccine are now being investigated and may help prevent shingles in the future.

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