Everything you need to know about shingles

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Transcript

00:00Hi, I'm health reporter Sarah McCann and today we are going to be talking about shingles.

00:05Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and results

00:10in a painful rash.

00:12The first sign of shingles will normally include a tingling sensation in an area of the body

00:18followed by a headache or feeling generally unwell.

00:22A rash will develop a few days after these initial symptoms.

00:26According to the NHS, the shingles rash will usually appear on your chest or your stomach.

00:31However, shingles rash can appear anywhere on the body including the face, eyes or the

00:37genitals.

00:38The rash will appear as blotches on one side of your body.

00:43The blotches will then turn into blisters which could ooze fluid.

00:46In a few days, they will then dry out and crust over forming scabs.

00:52Treatment for shingles will depend on how severe your symptoms are and if you are at

00:56risk of any complications.

00:58A mild shingles infection often will not need any treatment.

01:03You may be offered antiviral medicine to help speed up your recovery if you have a weakened

01:08immune system, your pain is moderate or severe and the rash is affecting other areas of your

01:13body apart from your chest, tummy and your back.

01:17If you suspect you have shingles, it's really important that you contact your GP and request

01:21an urgent appointment or you contact the NHS 111 number.

01:25If you require antiviral medication, this needs to be taken within three days of the

01:30shingle rash appearing as that is when it is most effective.

01:33Alternatively, you can also contact a pharmacist who will be able to assist if you suspect

01:38that you have shingles.

01:40Shingles is not contagious, however, the shingles virus is caused by the same virus that causes

01:45chickenpox.

01:46This means that if you come into contact with someone who has never had chickenpox, they

01:50may be able to catch the virus.

01:53It's really important that when you have shingles that you avoid pregnant people who have never

01:58had chickenpox before, people with a weakened immune system and babies under one month old.

02:03The NHS offer a shingles vaccination programme.

02:06To be eligible, you must have turned 65 on or after the 1st of September 2023.

02:13You must be aged between 70 to 79 or be over 50 with a severely weakened immune system.

02:19You can find out more about shingles and how to access the shingles vaccine on nhs.uk