Symptoms and Causes of Having Shingles and Chickenpox
The symptoms of both diseases are similar, although they can vary in severity. They cause uncomfortable and itchy rashes and can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, including fever [4], headache, loss of appetite and nausea [5].
Pre shingles symptoms include pain in the body, itching and/or tingling, fever and headache. The shingles rash typically starts as a single strip rash around the side of the body. It may eventually break out to another nearby area if you spread it by scratching.
According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, blisters from chickenpox will disappear within 1 week. The pain and rash associated with shingles take a little longer to disappear, typically 3 to 5 weeks.
Chickenpox is caused by exposure to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Exposure occurs through spending time with someone who has it or touching their scabs or wounds. Shingles is an after effect of chickenpox, it is caused when there’s a reactivation of the VZV virus in the body. This reactivation generally occurs because of a dip in the immune system. The immune system can dip due to aging, exposure to other diseases, or medication.