Shingles or zoster, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you have had chicken pox, you can develop herpes zoster.
Symptoms include burning, itching, tingling, or extreme sensitivity usually limited to one side of the body. A red rash eventually appears, along with a fever or headache. The rash soon turns into groups of blisters which generally last for two to three weeks. The blisters start out clear but then look yellow or bloody before they crust over (scab) and disappear.
Usually, shingles clear on its own in a few weeks and seldom recurs. If diagnosed in the early stages, oral anti-viral drugs can be prescribed to decrease both viral shedding and the duration of skin lesions.