Shingles Causes

What are the Shingles Causes?

How many shingles causes are there? We need to understand what literally causes shingles and it is also good to know what influences can cause shingles. To learn the answers about both we need to understand more about shingles itself.  What are the shingles complications and is shingles contagious?

About Shingles

Shingles is a rash found usually around the midsection of the body but can also be found on the face and the shingles contagious period can vary. The VZV or Varicella zoster virus that also causes the chickenpox causes shingles to occur. One of the shingles complications is a person who has never had the chickenpox cannot first have shingles. However, a person who has never had the chickenpox can contract the virus from someone who is contagious with shingles and possible have an episode of chickenpox occur. In addition, if one has had shingles they can possibly have it again.  But what are the shingles causes?

Shingles Causes:

The VZV once contained and the individual who has experienced an episode of the chickenpox, the virus will go dormant and will stay inactive until something awakens it. The something can be a number of “causes” but there are a few factors that seem to be more common. Factors can be, but not limited to, the following:

•    Age 50 and older
•    Cancer (any type)
•    Chronic Diseases (diabetes, HIV)
•    Illness/Injury
•    Medications
•    Organ Transplant
•    Poor Nutrition
•    Radiation Therapy
•    Steroid Therapy
•    Stress
•    Surgery
•    Weak Immune System (chemotherapy, AIDS)

As you can see by the list noted above, one of the common factors between them all is a compromised or poor immune system. It must be stated that just because an individual has an issue with their immune system doesn’t mean that they will experience shingles. Also, most of the items noted on the above list, the individual is usually under medical supervision and regularly visits their doctor so if there is an issues with shingles it will be caught in its early stages.

Shingles Symptoms

Shingles typically begins with itching, tingling or pain and then a few days later some red, itchy bumps usually in patches are formed around the chest and/or mid-waist area; there can be patches on the face too, although like chickenpox, they can be found anywhere on the body. The bumps are red and look like chickenpox but are blisters. Some symptoms that one may experience are headaches, fever and/or chills, diarrhea, nausea and even swelling and/or tenderness of the lymph nodes.

The blisters tend to be in a “stripe” formation and usually only on one side of the individuals body. The fluid within the blisters will first be clear and then can turn cloudy. It takes about 5 days for the blisters to go through the cycle of possibly bursting open and then forming a healing crust; the entire process for shingles itself to be resolved can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks on average. The most common symptom is pain. For many, the pain is extreme; so intense that it can be deliberating to the individual.

If you experience any of the above symptoms and have concerns, regardless if it is chickenpox or shingles, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. You need to receive medication to stop the virus and obtain shingles pain relief that will be experienced. There is a natural cure for shingles that I go into on another page that asks the question, are shingles contagious?  Finally, the shingles causes are one, which is the Varicella zoster virus, but the factors are numerous.