Shingles is a skin rash that is caused by a viral infection. Its symptoms include areas of burning, pain, itching and tingling, followed by a red rash that turns into fluid-filled blisters. The rash is usually seen on one side of the chest or waist and sometimes on one side of the face or around one eye. Some people also experience headache, fatigue, fever and sensitivity to light.

Shingles (otherwise called herpes zoster) is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. It can affect anyone who has had chickenpox. Shingles occurs due to reactivation of the varicella virus that lies dormant (asleep) for years in your nervous system after you recover from chickenpox.

Yes. Children who have had chickenpox can later get shingles, but this is uncommon. The symptoms seen in children are usually mild. However, children with a weak immune system may experience the same symptoms as adults.

Yes, shingles can sometimes lead to complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (continued pain long after the rash clears), blindness, inflammation in the brain, hearing or balance problems, weakness of the facial muscles and bacterial skin infections. Complications are usually seen in older people with a weakened immune system.

Getting vaccinated can protect you from developing severe shingles and its complications. Two vaccines can help prevent shingles: the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine and the shingles (varicella-zoster) vaccine. If you have neither had chickenpox nor received the chickenpox vaccine, avoid being near people with the shingles rash as they can pass on the virus.