What Is the Incubation Period for Shingles?

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are about 500,000 cases of shingles, or herpes zoster, in the United States every year. Shingles is a viral infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox.

Features

After a person has had chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in the body, in nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain. It may reappear at any time in the form of shingles—or never, depending on the person's health 1. During an outbreak, only those who have not had chicken pox before are susceptible. Shingles are infectious until all blisters have crusted over. If someone becomes infected by exposure to shingles, symptoms will appear in 14 to 21 days in the form of chicken pox.

Identification

Signs & Symptoms of Internal Shingles

Learn More

The symptoms of shingles often begin as pain or a burning sensation that affects a small area on one side of the body 1. This may be followed by a red rash four or five days later and then the appearance of fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over, causing severe itching.

Considerations

The exact cause of an outbreak of shingles is unclear. It is more common in older people and those with weakened immune systems. Since it is caused by a reactivation of a latent virus, shingles has no incubation period.

Significance

Can Shingles Be on Your Penis?

Learn More

Treatment

Though a shingles outbreak usually heals on its own within a few weeks, some physicians will prescribe anti-viral drugs and pain medication to ease pain, speed healing and help prevent complications 1.

Prevention

According to the Mayo Clinic, two vaccines may help prevent shingles or lessen the severity 1. The varicella vaccine is routinely given to children and adults who have never had chicken pox, and the varicella-zoster vaccine is given to people over the age of 60 who have had chicken pox and run the risk of getting shingles.