CDC - Shingles Homepage - Herpes Zoster

Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Nearly 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles. However, the risk of getting the disease increases as a person gets older. About half of all cases occur among men and women who are 60 years old or older... more

Shingles Topics

About Shingles

Describes the disease, its symptoms, how it’s spread, possible complications, treatment and prevention, photos of shingles...

Vaccination

General information about the shingles vaccine, vaccine safety, who should and should not be vaccinated, clinical information for healthcare professionals...

For Healthcare Professionals

Information for healthcare professional on clinical features, complications, risk factors, transmission, herpes zoster rates...

Laboratory Testing

Guidelines for collecting specimens for VZV testing, specimen collection form, instructions for shipping to CDC National VZV Laboratory...

Resources and References

General resources and references, clinical education, media resources...

Multimedia

Lists a feature story (article of interest to health consumers searching the internet), podcasts, and a web button related to shingles...

Signs & Symptoms

Pain, itching, or tingling of the skin followed by a painful rash of blister-like sores, usually on one side of the body, often on the face or torso
Fever
Headache
Chills
Upset stomach

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body in a dormant (inactive) state. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles. Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Almost 1 out of 3 people in America will develop shingles during his or her lifetime. The only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles (herpes zoster) is to get vaccinated. Adults 60 years old or older can receive a single dose of the shingles vaccine.

Guidelines for collecting and shipping specimens, video of specimen collection

Download Specimen Collection Form [64 KB, 1 page]

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