).Shingles Shingles Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a viral infection that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. What causes the virus to reactive... read more is a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters that is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus Overview of Viral Infections A virus is composed of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. It requires a living cell in which to multiply. A viral infection can lead to a spectrum of symptoms from... read more , the virus that causes chickenpox Chickenpox Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection with the varicella-zoster virus that causes a characteristic itchy rash, consisting of small, raised, blistered, or crusted spots. Chickenpox... read more 
. The varicella-zoster virus is a member of the herpesvirus Overview of Herpesvirus Infections Some common viral infections are caused by herpesviruses. Eight different herpesviruses infect people: Three herpesviruses—herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and varicella-zoster... read more family (herpesvirus type 3). Shingles is sometimes called herpes zoster. Some people who have had shingles continue to have pain long after the rash has gone away. Such pain is called postherpetic neuralgia, which means nerve pain after herpes.
Exactly why postherpetic neuralgia occurs is not well-understood.
Postherpetic neuralgia occurs most often in older people. As people age, the chance of developing postherpetic neuralgia increases.
