This can confirm if your rash is caused by shingles. If you have a rash, the doctor may test some fluid from your blisters. To diagnose shingles, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine you. You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you have symptoms of shingles and:įIND A HEALTH SERVICE - The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services. See your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms of shingles. The virus will stay in your nerve cells but not be active, shingles occurs when it becomes active again. If you've had chickenpox in the past, you can develop shingles. The virus can spread through contact with the fluid in the blisters of an infected person. If you haven't had chickenpox, you can catch chickenpox from a person who has shingles.

You can't catch shingles from someone who has the condition. Shingles occurs when the virus becomes active again. It's possible to have had chickenpox with only minor symptoms.Īfter having chickenpox, the virus stays in the nerve cells near your spine but is not active. You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox in the past. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Print, download, share or embed this shingles infographic.ĬHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS - Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. But sometimes, especially if you have a weakened immune system, you might get repeat infections. Usually, people have shingles only once in their lives. Shingles often occurs with no known trigger. who had chickenpox in their first year of lifeĪbout 1 in 3 people will develop shingles at some stage during their lifetime.However, risk of shingles is higher in people: Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, blistering rash. Related information on Australian websites.The shingles vaccine helps prevent you from getting shingles.

Shingles causes a painful, blistering rash that can be treated with antiviral medicine.

You can't get shingles if you haven't had chickenpox.

Shingles is most common in people over 50 years.

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Chicken pox and shingles