Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

When To Call A Professional

Early treatment may help deter long-term complications, so call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of shingles.

Prognosis

Most people recover completely with no pain, and skin color returns to normal. Once you have had shingles, it is rare for the condition to return. Shingles come back in only about 2% of people, but in up to 20% of people with AIDS. Skin darkening in the area of the rash is possible. Long-term complications from shingles, such as post-herpetic neuralgia, may continue for months or many years. The disease also may cause varying degrees of discoloration on your skin.

Additional Info

National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Building 31, Room 7A-50 31 Center Dr. MSC 2520 Bethesda, MD 20892-2520 Phone: (301) 496-5717 http://www.niaid.nih.gov/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1600 Clifton Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: (404) 639-3534 Toll-Free: (800) 311-3435 http://www.cdc.gov/