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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on the questions you are interested in to read the answers

  • How do I get shingles?
    To get shingles, you must have had chickenpox earlier on in your life. Almost all adults aged 50 and over already carry the inactive virus.1,2 This is because shingles is the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus - the virus that causes chickenpox.1,2 You can not catch shingles.
  • Is shingles contagious?
    Shingles isn't contagious, i.e. you can't catch shingles from someone who has shingles.1,2 However, you can get chickenpox from someone who has shingles if you've never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.1,2
  • Are there factors that increase your risk of getting shingles?
    There are factors that increase the risk of getting shingles including being aged 50 and above, having a weakened immune system and having chickenpox in the first year of your life.1,2
  • Can you get shingles more than once?
    Usually, people have shingles only once in their lives. But sometimes, especially if you have a weaknened immune system, you might get repeat infections.1,2 Having shingles once does not mean you will never get it again.1-3
  • What can trigger shingles in adults?
    The virus that causes shingles may be reactivated by things including illness, immunosuppression, older age, and radiotherapy.1,2 But often, shingles occurs for no known reason.1
  • Can you get shingles if you haven't had chickenpox?
    If you have never had chickenpox or been exposed to the chickenpox virus, you can't get shingles.1,2 This is because shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.1,2 Almost all adults over 50 carry the inactive chickenpox virus even if they don't remember having chickenpox.1,2,4
  • How do you know if you have shingles?
    There are a number of signs and symptoms which typically present with shingles including localised pain and tingling, often on one side of the body or face; itchiness or the infected area; a general feeling of tiredness or weakness; and a rash, consisting of red bumps, usually following distinct pattern, forming a band or stripe.1,2,5

    However, to confirm that you have shingles, you will need to see your doctor to confirm a shingles diagnosis.
  • How common is shingles?
    Shingles is a common illness.1,2 Most people carry the inactive virus that causes shingles and about 1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime.1,2 It can occur regardless of how healthy and fit they may feel.1,2
  • Does shingles just appear on the torso?
    The rash most commonly appears on the torso (abdomen), but the shingles rash can affect other areas of the body including the face, chest, back and pelvis.1,2,5
  • Why am I at a higher risk of shingles from the age of 50?
    A person's risk of developing shingles increases with age, because the immune system naturally weakens over time. This can allow the usually inactive virus to reactivate, despite how healthy you may feel.1,2

    Nearly all people 50 years and older already carry the inactive virus, with about 1 in 3 developing shingles in their lifetime.1,2,4

“The pain had intensified to the point where I couldn’t function. It’s really hard. It controls your whole life.”

—
Maxine
shingles at 56

Individual patients’ symptoms of shingles may vary. These statements are based on some patients’ descriptions and do not represent every patient’s experience.

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