Are Shingles And Herpes Related – By Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP – S. Srakočić – Updated April 20, 2023
Both shingles and herpes cause bumps and blisters, but shingles only appears on one side of the body. A doctor can help make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.
Are Shingles And Herpes Related
Shingles and cold sores are two of the many common conditions that cause rashes. Because these conditions cause similar rashes and blisters, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them when you look at the skin.
Conditions Mistaken For Shingles (herpes Zoster)
No. Although they look similar, the two conditions are very different. In addition to the cause of each condition, there are many ways to tell the difference between cold sores and cold sores.
Here, you’ll learn the difference between the two conditions and how to treat them.
A shingles rash usually appears in a striped pattern on one side of your body. In very rare cases, the rash may spread to the other side of the body or affect multiple areas at once.
Pain is often the first symptom of shingles. Shingles pain can be intense and will let you know something is wrong. The rash usually appears a few days after the onset of pain.
Herpes Zoster Duplex And Multiplex: The Exception That Confirms The Rule
Most shingles rashes appear around your midsection, but they can also appear around your neck, face, or eyes. Some people with shingles never get the rash.
Some people have no symptoms of herpes. When symptoms do appear, they usually appear 2 to 12 days after exposure.
Shingles is caused by infection with the virus that causes chicken pox. This virus can reactivate several times during your lifetime, causing episodes of shingles that last for several weeks. After an outbreak, shingles symptoms take 3-5 weeks to resolve.
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus called HSV, and there are two types, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Can You Get Shingles More Than Once?
Cold sores can appear regularly throughout your life – for some people several times a year. It is also possible to be infected with the herpes simplex virus and not show any symptoms. Sores caused by herpes usually take 10-14 days to heal.
Shingles itself is not contagious, but the virus that causes it is. People who are exposed to the virus for the first time, including people who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox, can get chickenpox. With chickenpox, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles in the future.
The virus is contagious from blisters to shingles.
Herpes simplex virus lives in your body even if you don’t have active blisters or sores. This means that the virus can be passed on to others. Also, when you have a cold, oral sex can transfer the virus to your genitals and cause genital herpes.
Herpes Zoster Associated With Higher Long
Herpes is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that first enters your system when you have chicken pox. After chicken pox clears up, the virus can remain in your system and remain dormant for years. In some people, the virus eventually reactivates and causes shingles. Not everyone who has chickenpox gets shingles.
Herpes can be caused by two different types of herpes simplex virus. HSV-1 is the virus that most commonly causes oral herpes, but it can also spread to other parts of your body. HSV-2 is the virus that causes genital herpes. HSV-2 occurs more frequently than HSV-1.
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are lifelong infections that lie dormant in your system even if you have no symptoms.
Anyone who has chicken pox can develop shingles. Because the chickenpox vaccine was not available for children before 1995, most adults in the United States today are at risk for shingles.
Shingles Needs A Shake Up
Herpes simplex virus can be transmitted even when there are no symptoms. If you don’t know if your partner has tested negative for a sexually transmitted disease (STD), it’s important to use protection regularly.
Any sexual intercourse without a condom or other protective method poses a risk of herpes infection. Correct condom use, including checking expiration dates and checking for flaws, is an important way to reduce the risk of exposure.
Shingles is generally diagnosed based on your symptoms. A healthcare professional will examine your rash and blisters and talk to you about the pain.
They may also send a small swab from your blisters for a lab test to determine if the varicella-zoster virus is present.
Sacral Herpes Zoster Presenting As Sciatica
Herpes is diagnosed by physical examination and laboratory tests. Just like with shingles, your doctor will take a swab from one of the blisters to examine your rash and send it to a lab.
Although a culture from the infected area is a more convenient and accurate method of diagnosis, your doctor may also draw blood to look for antibodies to the herpes simplex virus in your system. A blood test can detect the presence of HSV-1 or HSV-2.
If you are infected with the herpes simplex virus or have symptoms of herpes, get tested as soon as possible. Even without a primary care physician, many tests can be performed. Testing may be offered free or at low cost at community clinics or local health departments.
Herpes is treated with antiviral drugs and pain relievers that can speed up your recovery. Your exact treatment plan will depend on:
Herpes Zoster: Nursing
Antiviral medications can help you recover first and reduce your symptoms. Depending on your case and medical condition, you can take these medicines during an attack or daily.
Before using any of the above methods, consult your doctor. These treatments should not be used without the guidance of a medical professional. A medical professional can help you avoid unwanted side effects such as allergic reactions.
Shingles is not a sexually transmitted disease and cannot be passed from person to person. However, direct contact with the blistering fluid from shingles can spread the varicella-zoster virus and increase the chance of developing shingles in the future.
Although shingles and herpes are two different conditions caused by two different viruses, both viruses are members of the family officially known as herpesviruses. While the herpes simplex virus derives its official name from this term, the varicella-zoster virus does not.
Can You Die From Shingles?
Although not a disease related to herpes, shingles is sometimes called “herpes zoster,” which refers to the common family of viruses that cause it. In this family of viruses, only the herpes simplex virus causes the disease we know today as “herpes”.
If you’re not sure whether your doctor is talking about herpes simplex or cold sores when you hear the word “herpes,” seek clarification.
Shingles is caused by several factors, and the sensitivity of each factor varies from person to person.
Things that weaken the immune system, such as stress, certain medications, and other medical conditions, can trigger shingles outbreaks, as can certain foods that contain amino acids that help the virus multiply.
Disseminated Herpes Zoster Infection
Neither cold sores nor cold sores can be cured, but there are treatments for both that help relieve symptoms.
Some herpes treatments can reduce the risk of infecting others, but will not completely eliminate that risk.
Shingles and herpes are caused by two different viruses and are acquired in different ways. You may have symptoms of shingles and herpes outbreaks at the same time.
Shingles and herpes cause red bumps and blisters on the body, but they are not the same condition. Each condition has its own symptoms.
What Is Herpes Zoster?
If you suspect you have shingles or herpes, see your healthcare provider. They can examine your rash and perform tests if necessary.
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Our experts are constantly monitoring the health and wellness space, and we update our articles as new information becomes available. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infectious disease that causes a painful rash on the skin. It is mainly caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same viral agent that causes chickenpox.
This skin infection is common among people who have had chicken pox in the past. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus infects nerve tissue and lies dormant in your nervous system for years. This eventually reactivates along the cutaneous nerve pathways, causing the physical symptoms of shingles.
Shingles (herpes Zoster Virus) Archives
Shingles rash is usually localized and affects only one part of the body. It usually manifests as a band or band of blisters that runs from the anterior spine to the sternum. In some cases, shingles can spread widely and appear on the neck, nose and forehead.
Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus
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