Before the characteristic rash appears, some people may experience burning or pain in a specific area of the body, tingling, skin hypersensitivity, and localized discomfort.
When the disease fully manifests, a rash of clustered blisters typically appears on one side of the body. This occurs because the virus reactivates along a specific nerve. Therefore, the lesions follow a localized pattern rather than appearing all over the body.
A person with shingles does not directly transmit the virus, but can transmit the varicella-zoster virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or is not vaccinated.
In that case, the exposed person could develop chickenpox, not shingles, so it is recommended to avoid direct contact with pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.
Shingles demonstrates that some diseases can remain hidden for years before manifesting. Therefore, pay attention to your body’s signals, take care of your immune system, and consult a healthcare professional when unusual symptoms appear, as they could make a significant difference.
