Are shingles the ghost of chickenpox past? A doctor's primer on this painful virus

Almost 1 out of every 3 people in Canada will develop shingles, but the fact of the matter is that many of us have no idea what this virus is. Simply put, shingles is a painful, burning, blistering rash that happens because of the same virus that causes chickenpox. Since most of us were born before the era of the chickenpox vaccine, many people endured the actual virus. Even the body may be cleared of most of it, some of that virus can go into the nerve tissue beside the spinal cord and stay there inactive for many years. If it reactivates, it can spread along the nerve tissue and actually cause what we call shingles. It's commonly believed that only elderly are prone to contracting it, but this – along with other misconceptions and myths – can prevent people from seeking medical help when needed. So to set the record straight, allergy and immunology specialist, Dr. Christine Song stopped by The Goods to tell us what we need to know.

Myth: Only elderly people get shingles

Unfortunately, anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles. Having a weakened immune system is also a factor that greatly increases the odds. While older people are more likely to get shingles, younger individuals with a weaker immune system, or those suffering from cancer or HIV, are also at risk. Stress is also a contributing factor – so even those who are otherwise healthy can develop them.

Myth: The first sign of shingles in a skin rash

Not necessarily! Early symptoms and signs of shingles include burning, itching, tingling, or sensitive skin for up to three days. Following these skin sensations, a rash may appear in the same area, which will develop into groups of clear blisters. Blisters will then become yellow and sometimes bloody, and then scab before healing, which generally takes two to three weeks.

Myth: Shingles always appears on your torso

While shingles blisters typically appear on one side of the torso, they can also appear on the face, or even around the eyes. Dr. Song advises seeing a doctor right away if you suspect shingles on your face because you may need special care to prevent eye damage.

Although shingles don't always just appear on the torso, they do typically always appear on just one side of the body (or face). This is because the virus – the chickenpox virus – lies dormant in the spinal nerve root and if the virus wakes up and spreads – as it does with shingles – it does so along the spinal nerve, causing symptoms only in the area of skin that is served by that nerve, where it reactivated. While not common, you can get shingles more than once, but those who have multiple bouts typically don't get the rash in the same place.

Myth: It goes away in a couple of weeks

Only for some! For the majority of people, the actual rash will go away within 3 to 4 weeks, but the pain can persist in up to 40% of shingles sufferers. These people continue to feel the shooting, burning pain for months or even years after the rash and infection are gone. The chronic condition, called postherpetic neuralgia, is actually nerve damage caused by shingles. Pain specialists can offer a variety of treatments: pain-relief medications, nerve block injections and even implanted nerve stimulators that block pain signals.

Myth: Shingles is not contagious

Someone with shingles can't spread shingles, but they can spread chickenpox. The virus is released from the oozing rash, so keep the rash covered and avoid contact with anyone who has never had chicken pox or a chickenpox vaccine. This is especially true around young infants, as the vaccine isn't usually given until after one year of age, or other individuals with significantly weakened immune systems, like someone undergoing chemotherapy.