Usually, shingles develops in a small area on just one side of the body or face because the reactivated virus travels in a specific nerve. The most common place for shingles to occur is in a band around one side of the trunk.
Most people with shingles have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Burning, shooting pain
- Tingling, itching, or numbness of the skin
- Chills, fever, headache, or upset stomach
- For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze. It’s important to talk with your doctor if you notice any shingles symptoms.
If you notice blisters on your face, see your doctor right away because this could be an urgent problem. Blisters near or in the eye can cause lasting eye damage and blindness. Hearing loss, a brief paralysis of the face, or, very rarely, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) can also occur.
