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Shingles: An Infection That Produces A Painful Rash On The Body
Around 194,000 people in England and Wales get shingles, which is caused by the chickenpox virus, every year.
People are advised to call 111 or visit the doctor if they suspect shingles (Anthony Devlin/PA)
By Ellie Ng, PA
Sun 16 Apr 2023 at 20:29Shingles is an infection that produces a painful rash on the body and is caused by the chickenpox virus, according to the NHS.
It is common to get the shingles rash on the chest or abdomen but it can appear anywhere on the body including the face, eyes and genitals, the health service said.
According to the Shingles Support Society (SSS), red patches are usually the first sign of the rash appearing but there may also be itching, tingling or burning under the skin, pain around the area and "fluid-filled blisters" that burst and turn into sores before they dry out.
The virus hides away in the body and can appear again at any age. When this happens, we call it shingles
Shingles Support Society
Around 194,000 people in England and Wales get shingles every year, the SSS website said.
The charity added: "We call it chickenpox when we first catch it.
"The virus hides away in the body and can appear again at any age. When this happens, we call it shingles.
"This can be at any age but it is more likely to occur as we get older."
The rash can take up to five weeks to heal.
People are urged to call 111 or visit the doctor as soon as they suspect shingles as they might need medication.
For treating shingles at home, the NHS website advises taking paracetamol, keeping the rash clean and dry, wearing loose-fitting clothes and using a cool compress a few times a day.
It warns against letting dressings or plasters stick to the rash or using antibiotic cream.
The health service also urges those infected to stay away from certain groups of people to avoid spreading chickenpox, including pregnant people who have not had chickenpox before, people with a weakened immune system and babies less than one month old.
A vaccination is available on the NHS for people in their 70s.
What Is Shingles? Holly Willoughby Misses This Morning After Being Hit With The Condition
Holly Willoughby may not be presenting This Morning the whole week because she has shingles. The painful condition is characterised by a rash that develops on one side of the face or body. Before the rash crops up, there are three warning signs that could ring alarm bells.
Holly Willoughby posted on her Instagram story that she might not be appearing on the daytime show because of her shingles.
The presenter penned: "Just to let you know I may be away for the rest of the week as I have shingles.
"I'll be back as soon as I'm better. Huge Love, Holly xxx"
This Morning has confirmed that Willoughby will be off for "a few days"' and Rochelle Humes will temporarily replace her to present alongside Phillip Schofield.
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What is shingles?You haven't probably thought about chickenpox since you battled the itchy disease in your childhood.
However, the health problem that is common among children is caused by the same virus as shingles - varicella-zoster virus.
Once you've had chickenpox, this virus lies dormant in your nervous system but might be reactivated later in life.
While shingles isn't life-threatening, they can be very painful, according to the Mayo Clinic.
However, the rash can also pop up on one side of your face. Worryingly, this location could affect your eye and cause vision loss.
Other symptoms to be aware of include:
Pain, burning or tinglingSensitivity to touchA red rash that begins a few days after the painFluid-filled blisters that break open and crust overItchingFeverHeadacheSensitivity to lightFatigue.
The NHS recommends getting advice from 111 "as soon as possible" if you think you might have shingles.
How to reduce your risk of shinglesFortunately, shingles vaccination can help cut your risk of developing the painful condition.
This jab is available on the NHS for people in their 70s.
And if you get shingles after getting the vaccine, your symptoms can be much milder.
You can ask your GP surgery about whether you can get the jab on the NHS.
What Is Shingles? Holly Willoughby 'feeling So Much Better' After Absence From This Morning
This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby revealed her shingles diagnosis on her Instagram story (ITV)
This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby has shared a health update with fans after missing the show because of shingles.
The presenter said she is "feeling so much better" on Instagram Stories on Friday.
Willoughby was absent from the ITV show this week, after sharing that she was unwell.
Speaking on on her Instagram story earlier this week, she wrote: "Hi... Just to let you know i may be away for the rest of the week as i have shingles... I'll be back as soon as I'm better. Huge Love, Holly xxx".
Rochelle Humes stepped in to present the show with Philip Schofield while their colleague recovered.
What is shingles?Shingles is an infection that produces a painful rash on the body and is caused by the chickenpox virus, the NHS says.
It is common to get the shingles rash on the chest or abdomen. However, the NHS says it can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, eyes and genitals.
Around 194,000 people in England and Wales get shingles every year, the Shingles Support Society (SSS) website says.
The charity says: "We call it chickenpox when we first catch it.
"The virus hides away in the body and can appear again at any age. When this happens, we call it shingles.
"This can be at any age but it is more likely to occur as we get older."
What causes shingles?The virus flees to a neural ganglion (junction box) in the nerves next to the spine as soon as you recover from chickenpox. For the rest of your life, it remains there in a dormant state. One day, something "triggers" the virus to reactivate it, possibly when you are fatigued or ill, though no one is really sure why, and it manifests as shingles.
What are the symptoms of shingles?The SSS says red patches are usually the first sign of the rash appearing. However, there may also be itching, tingling or burning under the skin, pain around the area and "fluid-filled blisters" that burst and turn into sores before they dry out.
The virus hides away in the body and can appear again at any age. When this happens, we call it shingles
Story continues
Shingles Support Society
How is shingles treated?People are urged to call 111 or visit the doctor as soon as they suspect shingles as they might need medication.
For treating shingles at home, the NHS website advises taking paracetamol, keeping the rash clean and dry, wearing loose-fitting clothes, and using a cool compress a few times a day.
It warns against letting dressings or plasters stick to the rash or using antibiotic cream.
The NHS also urges those infected to stay away from certain groups of people to avoid spreading chickenpox. These include pregnant people who have not had chickenpox before, people with a weakened immune system, and babies less than one month old.
A vaccination is available on the NHS for people in their 70s.
The rash can take up to five weeks to heal.
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