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Chickenpox vs. Shingles—What’s the Difference?

What are shingles?

This is a disease that occurs after you have gotten chickenpox. After treating chickenpox, the virus remains inactive inside you; this period is called latency. The virus can now reoccur years or decades after as shingles. It is commonly seen in older adults in the United States. It can also be seen in children, but it is rare.

Studies show that shingles can also occur in people with compromised immune systems. A common manifestation is a distinctive blister rash that occurs on the torso or the face. It can also lead to severe nerve pain that can last for weeks and even months after the rash is gone.

Shingles cannot be transferred from one person to another. It can only occur in people that have had chickenpox. You should know that it is possible to get chickenpox (if you have never had it) after coming in contact with the fluids in your shingles rash. You can have shingles more than once.