What are symptoms of shingles as an adult after having had chicken pox as a child?
Shingles is caused by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox. It usually presents as a very painful rash that wraps around one-half of the torso; very rarely will the rash show on both sides at once. You have a stinging, burning sensation that makes it uniquely uncomfortable – most people with shingles go immediately to their doctor because they feel so bad. Antiviral medicines like Valtrex and Zovirax are used to help drive the virus back into hiding, and pain medicine helps with the pain. There is no cure, however, and anyone who has had chickenpox will probably get shingles at some time in their later life.
