The virus usually affects one nerve only, on one side of the body. Symptoms occur in the area of skin that the nerve supplies. The usual symptoms are pain and a rash. Occasionally, two or three nerves next to each other are affected.
The most commonly involved nerves are those supplying the skin on the chest or abdomen. The upper face (including an eye) is also a common site.
The pain is a localised 'band' of pain. It can be anywhere on your body, depending on which nerve is affected. The pain can range from mild to severe. You may have a constant dull, burning, or gnawing pain. In addition, or instead, you may have sharp and stabbing pains that come and go. The affected area of skin is usually tender.
The rash typically appears 2-3 days after the pain begins. Red blotches appear that quickly develop into itchy blisters. The rash looks like chickenpox, but only appears on the band of skin supplied by the affected nerve. New blisters may appear for up to a week. They dry up, form scabs, and gradually fade away. Slight scarring may occur where the blisters had been. The picture shows a scabbing rash of a fairly bad bout of shingles that has affected a nerve, and the skin that the nerve supplies, on the left side of the abdomen.
An episode of shingles usually lasts 2-4 weeks. In some cases there is a rash but no pain. Rarely, there is no rash but just a band of pain. You may also feel feverish and unwell for a few days.
- Read more: is shingles contagious?
- Expert advice on shingles
- How to relieve the pain of shingles
- Read Joanne's story: 'A jabbing pain turned out to be shingles'
- Check out the full facts about chickenpox