Shingles — infographic
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful blistering rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox in the past.
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Signs and symptoms
- tingling
- burning pain
- itching
- fatigue
- sensitivity to light
- headache
- red, bumpy rash
- blistering rash
Ongoing pain after shingles that lasts for more than 3 months is called post-herpetic neuralgia.
Treatment
There is no cure for shingles, but antiviral medicine can help treat the condition.
- See your doctor for a prescription of antiviral medicines as soon as possible after symptoms develop.
- Start the medicine within 3 days of a rash appearing.
- If you are pregnant, check with your doctor first.
For pain relief, use paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Vaccination
Vaccination is your best protection against shingles.
The Shingrix vaccine is free for:
- people aged 65 years or older
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older
- immunocompromised people aged 18 years or older with certain medical conditions
For everyone else, there is a cost for this vaccine.
Not sure what to do next?
Use healthdirect's Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: July 2023
