What Is The Illness 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...

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Is Shingles contageous

Everything I read about Shinghles, it says ytou can't catch it. However it appears to me that lots of my friends seem to be having shings at the same time.Could this just be a case of lots of chicken pox around and this is causing the shingles...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

David,Thanks for your post.Shingles is reactivation of old chickenpox (Varicella zoster). It is not contagious to persons who have previously had chicken pox, but can cause primary chickenpox in persons who have never had the illness.Having... Read more »

Just diagnosed and also have shingles please answer!

I am 22 year old male in the UK and have just had the devastating news that I am HIV+. I wouldn't say I deserve it but it is my own fault and I hope I can get through it. I don't plan to let it control my life completely.I had a test one...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through, especially without people to share your feelings. The good news is that you will do very well if you stay focused on getting into care and following through on maintaining your... Read more »

Re: Girlfriend has Shingles

Dr. Feinberg,I had a quick question about shingles. How long does it last? My girlfriend was told by the doctor she went to she had shingles, but in turn he wasn't 100 sure (why cultures weren't taken I'll never know). Anyway, it...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Shingles can involve a relatively small area, and can start healing after about a week. Shingles isn't easily diagnosed by culture, so don't be concerned that her doctor didn't do that.... Read more »

HIV + SHINGLES

Hello DRS.I am 36 and was diagnosed Hiv+ in July 2003 and my counts were at the time cd4=928..vl=76,500....I haven't started treatment, but I've visited the doc for several aliments..HPV,cold sores,and depression. Also, I've been...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

I'm not sure exactly what your question is, but shingles (the reactivation of chickenpox) is not rare among persons with HIV infection.The symptoms should resolve over time, and the key thing is the ability to recognize the early symptoms of... 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 »

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 »

CD4 under 200 but healthy without any illness

Posted by bobbob, 2 Replies

Hi,

I was diagnosed two months ago.My CD4 count dropped below 200 weeks ago. and it was 350 in September last year. I know I was infected in August 2005. I don't have any diseases yet and feel very healthy, no coughs, no fever, nothing.

Shall I start... 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 »

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