Will Shingles Keep Coming Back After Getting It Once

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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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back to back shingles!!!!! ouch

dear doctorcould you shed some light on this question,have you ever heard of getting shingles back to back?as in my case i first got them late dec 99, cleared up late jan 00,just a few days later shingles pop up again on the same exact rash spots as...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

It is unusual but not impossible. It may have come back because the first course of antiviral therapy was too short-- I use at least 10 days of treatment, not 7. Also, sometimes people are prescribed the Herpes dose of valaciclovir (Valtrex)--... 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 »

Shingles=HIV ? (SHINGLES, 2009)

Hi,i'm 24 and was diagnosed w/ shingles after I developed a small circular rash on my shoulder. I got tested for HIV the same day but I feel like these are longest 2 weeks of my life. I haven't been sick nor have I had any abnormal female...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Does a routine case of shingles mean HIV??? No. A routine case of shingles means a routine case of shingles and nothing more. See below.Dr. Bobplease dr bob.. 3rd time askin.. am i still freakin or hiv? (SHINGLES)Feb 20, 2008 dr bob.. i have... Read more »

Hiv and Shingles (SHINGLES)

Hi Dr Bob,This site has to be the most humerous HIV site in the world - very refreshing. Anyway, here's my story. 6 months ago I made the biggest, drunken mistake of my life and had protected (condom), vaginal sex with a sex worker in a...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi Very Worried Young Man, (SHINGLES)This type of shingles question comes up so frequently it's become a QTND (Question That Never Dies) and now has an ATNC (Answer That Never Changes). See below. Your worries are unwarranted. However, your... Read more »

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shingles

Posted by LLsexyLL, 2 Replies

Does anyone know how to prevent getting shingles the second time. I had them Dec 2010 . Now my face has healed but I was told I can get them again.
Is there anyway of preventing getting shingles again? Read more »

Shingles = HIV?

Posted by grcboy30, 5 Replies

Hi there.
I had chicken pox at 5 years old so can develop shingles. I haven't been to the doctor yet but have what I am pretty sure is shingles on the side of my chest (a pink rash which is itchy with bumps). I am terrified of HIV. I am only 30... Read more »

Physical symptoms keep coming back?

Posted by haley, 3 Replies

So I've been infected for about a month now. I started getting symptoms after week one and after week 2 I found out I was positive. After about 7-8 days of symptoms, I started feeling a lot better physically. I even had my appetite back and... Read more »

Shingles

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Someone told me that shingles is one of the first indications of being HIV positive. I had shingles in 2002, and has felt fine since then. Although I do occassionally get dandruff. I had a dermatologist take a scalp sample and he said it was... Read more »

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