Medical Encyclopaedia › Shingles (short definition)
In brief: Shingles (herpes zoster) occurs when the varicella zoster virus, which lies dormant in nerve ganglia for life after chickenpox, becomes active again. A painful, usually one-sided blistering rash is typical.
Causes and risk factors
The risk increases with age because immune defence against the virus declines. Weakened immunity due to diseases or medicines, stress and severe infections also favour reactivation. Anyone who has never had chickenpox cannot get shingles, but can catch chickenpox from the fluid in the blisters.
Symptoms
The disease often begins with burning, tingling or pain in an area of skin (dermatome). After a few days, a belt-like or band-like rash with blisters forms there, which heals after about two to four weeks. The trunk and face are often affected.
Complications
The most common complication is post-herpetic neuralgia: nerve pain that can persist for months after the rash has healed. If the face, especially the eye or ear, is affected, damage to sight or hearing and facial paralysis can occur.
Treatment
Antiviral medicines such as aciclovir, valaciclovir or brivudine work best if they are started within 72 hours of the rash appearing. They are recommended particularly for people aged 50 and over, when the head and neck are affected and when the immune system is weakened. Adequate pain relief is also given.
Prevention through vaccination
The STIKO recommends vaccination with the inactivated (recombinant) herpes zoster vaccine (two doses) for everyone aged 60 and over and for people aged 50 and over with an increased risk due to underlying diseases or immunodeficiency.
Related terms in the encyclopaedia
Chickenpox, Herpes, Dermatome, Neuralgia, Aciclovir, Antiviral, Inactivated vaccine, STIKO, Vaccination
Sources
- Ständige Impfkommission (STIKO): Wissenschaftliche Begründung zur Empfehlung einer Impfung mit dem Herpes-zoster-subunit-Totimpfstoff, Epidemiologisches Bulletin 50/2018
- Robert Koch-Institut (RKI): RKI-Ratgeber Windpocken und Herpes zoster
- Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG): S2k-Leitlinie Diagnostik und Therapie des Zoster und der Postzosterneuralgie
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Last updated: October 2026.