What Is Shingles?
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Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can live, but remain inactive, in certain nerve roots within the body. If it becomes active again, usually later in life, it can cause Shingles.
Key Facts About Shingles
- If you've had chickenpox, you can get Shingles at any time, without warning. There's no way to predict if you will get Shingles, or how severe your case could be.
- It is estimated that 1 million cases of Shingles occur in the United States every year. Almost half of those cases occur in adults 60 years of age or older.
- 1 out of 2 people living to age 85 will have Shingles.
