What is Shingles?
By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD
Shingles is a medically termed herpes zoster. The name derives from the Latin term for belt. This is because Shingles generally results in a belt shaped rash. (6)
Shingles is characterized by this blistering and severely painful rash that occurs due to the varicella-zoster virus or the virus responsible for chickenpox.
Once an individual gets chickenpox, the virus remains inactive or dormant within certain nerves in the body. Years later this virus may reactivate to lead to Shingles or herpes zoster. This reactivation attack is usually not repeated.
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