Shingles is a common viral infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Like chickenpox, shingles causes a painful rash to appear on the skin. If you had chickenpox as a child, you have a higher risk of developing shingles as an adult. Shingles normally affects people over 50, but it can affect anyone.

The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your nerves after it subsides. It can reawaken later in life as the shingles virus. When the virus reactivates, the infected nerves, and the skin the nerves go to, become inflamed, causing a burning or stabbing pain. A few days later, when the virus reaches the skin, a rash of blisters appears. The skin may be very sensitive, unable to tolerate even the lightest touch.

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Many people associate discomfort, pain and fatigue with shingles. While it’s true that most, if not all, symptoms of shingles are uncomfortable, is it safe to say that shingles always cause pain?

The answer to this question is relative and largely based on the infected person’s tolerance for pain. Analyzing the symptoms of shingles and how most people respond to them can help us accurately assess whether shingles are always painful.

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Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with influenza and pneumonia. Approximately one-third of all pneumonia cases began as the flu. The flu is a well-known respiratory virus that has a broad list of complications. Pneumonia is one of the most common. Both the flu and pneumonia are respiratory illnesses that can work together to damage your lungs and potentially lead to death.

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Many people assume that most conditions are as contagious as the flu or coronavirus. But, shingles is one example of an infection that does not spread.

Shingles is not directly contagious. It is a viral infection that causes painful rashes on the body. It usually develops on one side of the body and can affect the face, back, abdomen, mouth, and internal organs. When someone first experiences shingles, there is a tingling, burning sensation in the skin.

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If left untreated, tuberculosis will kill. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) leads to the development of lesions in organ tissues. The most common form of TB, known as pulmonary tuberculosis, can cause severe lung damage leading to respiratory complications and eventual death.

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