Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral infection that causes an itchy, painful rash, typically on one side of the body. The rash can appear as a stripe of blisters, and can provoke chills, fatigue, fever, and pain. But it is not contagious to those who have had chickenpox.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This same virus is what leads to the development of chickenpox. After recovery from chickenpox, varicella-zoster stays dormant in the body. The virus can reactivate later on in life, often during an episode of a weakened immune system. The symptoms of shingles can include pain, itching, tingling, and numbness, as well as fever, headache, and fatigue.
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