Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 14:32

Shingles Causes

The varicella zoster virus causes shingles - or herpes zoster. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. When human beings contract chickenpox (most often in childhood), the virus travels from the skin, along the nerve paths, to the roots of the nerves. It stays here in an inactive state.

The virus is then re-activated later in life due to a weakened immune system and because of certain triggers. Thereafter, it travels along the nerve paths to the skin and appears in the form of shingles.

Some of the better-understood triggers are:

• Physical or mental trauma

• Cancers, especially tumours of the spinal cord, and lymphomas

• An immunosuppressed, immunocompromised state such as that caused by HIV/AIDS , autoimmune diseases, etc.

• Certain drugs, or treatments such as chemotherapy

Shingles Diagnosis

Shingles is a clinical diagnosis. This means that the characteristic appearance of the rash is usually sufficient for the doctor to make a diagnosis during your first visit.

If needed, the blisters may be scraped for virus identification. A blood test may also confirm the initial diagnosis.