Herpes zoster facts for kids

Herpes zoster on a patient's neck

Herpes zoster is a disease in humans. It is also known as Shingles or Zona. The same virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles. The main symptoms are pain and a rash with blisters.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral disease. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). This is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

How Shingles Develops

If you have had chickenpox, the VZV virus stays in your body. It becomes inactive, like it's sleeping. Later in life, this sleeping virus can "wake up" and cause shingles.

The first signs of shingles are often tingling, itchiness, or pain on your skin. After a few days, a blistering rash appears. This rash might be on your body or face.

The rash grows into small blisters filled with fluid. These blisters dry out and form scabs after several days. The rash can cause mild itching or even extreme pain. It usually stays in one area of your body.

Who Gets Shingles?

Most people who get shingles are older adults. However, it can sometimes affect younger people. People with a weakened immune system are also more likely to get it. Sometimes, stress can even trigger shingles.

Can You Catch Shingles?

You cannot directly catch shingles from someone. However, you can catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles. This happens if you touch the shingles rash directly.

If you have never had chickenpox, you can get it from someone with shingles. It is important for people with shingles to limit contact with those who are not immune to chickenpox. This includes young children and pregnant women.

If you have already had chickenpox, you cannot get chickenpox again. But, if you come into contact with someone who has shingles, it might cause your own sleeping chickenpox virus to wake up and become shingles.

Images for kids

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  Electron micrograph of Varicella zoster virus.

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  Progression of shingles. Small bumps turn into blisters. The blisters fill with lymph, break open, crust over, and finally disappear.

See also

In Spanish: Herpes zóster para niños