What Are Skin Shingles

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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Shingles-like Skin Pain

My partner started taking Fuezon a few months ago and his numbers have improved dramatically but he has been suffering from skin pain .... first on his shoulders and neck and now it has moved to his stomach and back. His doctor doesn't know...

Response from Don Kurtyka, ARNP

University of South Florida School of Medicine

Based on the information you provide, it doesn't sound like anything related to the Fuzeon injection site reactions. Is the pain occuring in any areas where injections have been given?If your partner's healthcare provider hasn't been... Read more »

Shingles Starting Treatment & Queen Issues (SHINGLES AND HIV, 2009) (WHEN TO START ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT, 2009)

Hi Dr Bob, Three weeks ago I came down with Shingles. A small patch on the back of my neck and a little across my chest all on the left side. I went to my local GP and he gave me Valtrex ( the 7 day shingle pack)Since then the pain has...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

G'day Aussie Drew,Relax mate! Approximately 95% of healthy adults are seropositive for varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes shingles. Of this 95%, about 5% of healthy adults develop zoster (shingles). The risk for those of us... Read more »

Herpes-Zoster-Shingles

I have had an acne type bump of the back of my neck...how would I know if it is zoster or shingles? I'm cd4-253/19000vl..its been there about three weeks...a friend who died in '94 had them on the back of his neck...my partner died in...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

It sounds more like a small boil (furuncle) or folliculitis (infection of a hair follicle) than shingles or herpes. I suggest you get a doctor to look at it.... Read more »

shingles

how long can symptoms last?...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

If you're unlucky, discomfort, itchiness or pain can last for a very long time (months-years). It's called "post-herpetic neuralgia".... Read more »

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shingles

Posted by butchcat

I had shingles afew years back, and occaisionally I'll get one or two "mini" blisters in the same area...also with some numbness or tingling. Has anyone out there had the same experience? Wondering if this is just long-term side effects or something... Read more »

skin problems

Posted by cowboys, 2 Replies

Since being diagnosed with HIV I have experienced folliculitis. It has not responded to the antibiotics given by my dermatologist who seems to have given up on it. I am not on any meds yet. Is this something that we with HIV just have to live with? Read more »

Can I get Shingles from another Poz guy if I had ?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Can I get shingles from another poz person even if I already had them myself in the past??? Read more »

My sister is HIV+ and has shingles

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

I was just wondering if anyone had experience with HIV and shingles. She's been fighting the shingles now for about 5 months and they'll just start to go away and then come back again. She was very thin for a while, but looked really good and had... Read more »

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