What is Herpes zoster or shingles? Herpes zoster, otherwise known as Shingles, is a disease that causes a painful rash on your body. It is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After getting chickenpox as a child or receiving the vaccine, the virus hides in nerve roots but can sometimes reactivate, causing a painful rash usually on your trunk. It is unknown what causes the virus to reactivate, but it usually happens during times of stress, aging, or when your immune system is weakened. What are the symptoms? Shingles causes clusters of painful blisters and bumps on one side of your body or face. They appear on your chest, trunk, abdomen, and sometimes on the face around the eye. Because the virus follows a nerve root, the rash is usually seen on one side of the body and the lesions seem to have a belt-like or linear distribution. Initially, you may have an uncomfortable tingling or burning sensation in the affected area, followed by flu-like symptoms (but usually no fever) along with the appearance of bumps and eventual blister formation. The rash can be very painful and severe. It may take up to several weeks for the lesions to completely heal. Sometimes, shingles can affect the eye, and cause redness of the eye, pain, and swelling of the eyelid. When this occurs it is a medical emergency, since blindness and impaired vision may result. If you notice a blister-like rash on one side of your face or have eye symptoms, you must see a doctor immediately. Copyright 2007, MD Kiosk, Inc