What are the risk factors for shingles?

After chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains inactive in nerve tissue. It can reactivate later as shingles when immune control is less effective. Risk rises with advancing age, a weakened immune system, or medicines that suppress immunity, such as some treatments for cancer, inflammatory disease, or after transplantation. Major physical stress or illness may coincide with reactivation, although many people cannot identify a single trigger. Having had chickenpox matters because shingles comes from reactivation; it is not a new episode of chickenpox.

Ask a clinician whether shingles vaccination is appropriate for you, especially if you are in an older age group or have a condition or treatment that affects immunity. Keep a new blistering rash covered when possible, wash your hands, and avoid close contact with pregnant people who have not had chickenpox or vaccination, newborns, and people with weakened immunity until lesions crust. Do not share towels or clothing. Early medical assessment matters because antiviral treatment works best when started soon after symptoms begin.

Contact a clinician promptly for one-sided burning pain, tingling, or a blistering rash, particularly if it is near the eye, nose, or ear. Urgent assessment is needed for eye pain, vision change, facial weakness, severe headache, confusion, or a widespread rash. People with weakened immunity should seek advice quickly even when the rash seems limited.

Could my medicines or health condition affect my shingles risk? Am I eligible for vaccination? What should I do if a rash appears? How can I protect someone vulnerable at home?