Shingles and Chickenpox (Varicella-Zoster Virus) - Complications

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Highlights	Symptoms	Treatment for Shingles
Introduction	Diagnosis	Treatment for Postherpetic Neuralgia
Risk Factors	Vaccination	Resources
Complications	Treatment for Chickenpox	References

Sometimes pain develops without a rash, a condition known as zoster sine herpete.

This is a picture of herpes zoster (shingles) on the neck and cheek. The same virus that causes chickenpox is responsible for outbreaks of shingles. Outbreaks of shingles often follow the distribution of nerves in the skin. This distribution pattern is called a dermatome (see the "dermatomes" picture).

Postherpetic Neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is pain that persists for longer than a month after the onset of herpes zoster. Typical symptoms include:

Pain that is described as deep aching, burning, stabbing, or like an electric shock
Extreme sensitivity to touch or temperature changes
The pain is persistent, but may come and go.

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Review Date: 05/03/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).