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The first noticeable symptom of shingles is a burning pain or tingling in one area of the body. This is a warning sign called a prodrome. Within 1 to 3 days, a rash appears, usually on just one side of the body. Within 2 to 4 days, the rash turns into blisters that are tender to the touch. The blisters may last as long as 2 to 3 weeks. When they disappear, the pain usually goes away. Mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever and headache, may also occur.
When your blisters break and ooze, it is possible for you to spread the virus to people who have never had chickenpox or those whose immune systems are not normal.
Unfortunately, the pain associated with shingles can be quite severe. It has been described as a sharp pain, like a stabbing or burning feeling. If the pain affects your daily activities, your doctor or other healthcare provider may need to prescribe pain medication. In patients with normal immune systems, shingles rarely leads to hospitalization, usually clears up in a few weeks, and almost never recurs. However, there are complications that you should know about. One of these complications is called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. People with PHN have pain that lasts for weeks, months, or even years after the skin outbreak has healed. Using medicine in the early stages of shingles may help reduce the duration of PHN.
Another complication is that the blisters can become infected by bacteria. You should suspect this has happened if the pain and redness suddenly become worse or go away and then return. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat these bacterial infections. Shingles carries a risk of scarring the skin if the blisters become infected with bacteria.
Shingles can also get into the eyes and cause permanent damage. If you have any blisters on your face, nose, eyes, or ears, be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare provider immediately.
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