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00:00Hi, I'm health reporter Sarah McCann and today we are going to be talking about shingles.
00:05Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and results
00:10in a painful rash.
00:12The first sign of shingles will normally include a tingling sensation in an area of the body
00:18followed by a headache or feeling generally unwell.
00:22A rash will develop a few days after these initial symptoms.
00:26According to the NHS, the shingles rash will usually appear on your chest or your stomach.
00:31However, shingles rash can appear anywhere on the body including the face, eyes or the
00:37genitals.
00:38The rash will appear as blotches on one side of your body.
00:43The blotches will then turn into blisters which could ooze fluid.
00:46In a few days, they will then dry out and crust over forming scabs.
00:52Treatment for shingles will depend on how severe your symptoms are and if you are at
00:56risk of any complications.
00:58A mild shingles infection often will not need any treatment.
01:03You may be offered antiviral medicine to help speed up your recovery if you have a weakened
01:08immune system, your pain is moderate or severe and the rash is affecting other areas of your
01:13body apart from your chest, tummy and your back.
01:17If you suspect you have shingles, it's really important that you contact your GP and request
01:21an urgent appointment or you contact the NHS 111 number.
01:25If you require antiviral medication, this needs to be taken within three days of the
01:30shingle rash appearing as that is when it is most effective.
01:33Alternatively, you can also contact a pharmacist who will be able to assist if you suspect
01:38that you have shingles.
01:40Shingles is not contagious, however, the shingles virus is caused by the same virus that causes
01:45chickenpox.
01:46This means that if you come into contact with someone who has never had chickenpox, they
01:50may be able to catch the virus.
01:53It's really important that when you have shingles that you avoid pregnant people who have never
01:58had chickenpox before, people with a weakened immune system and babies under one month old.
02:03The NHS offer a shingles vaccination programme.
02:06To be eligible, you must have turned 65 on or after the 1st of September 2023.
02:13You must be aged between 70 to 79 or be over 50 with a severely weakened immune system.
02:19You can find out more about shingles and how to access the shingles vaccine on nhs.uk