Shingles usually resolves on its own and most people make full recoveries1. However, the risk of shingles complications increases with age.2 The most common complication from shingles is chronic nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) that occurs in about 1 in 3 of patients.2 People with PHN experience persistent nerve pain for months or years in the area where they had the shingles rash - even after it has cleared up2.
Another complication is herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) which affects up to 1 in 4 patients with shingles. It is a condition where the shingles rash appears on the face around the eye, leading to swelling and in rare cases vision loss.1
Other complications of shingles include skin scarring, stroke, secondary infections, hearing loss, partial weakness or paralysis in areas where nerves are affected by shingles.1,3,4
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR. 2008 May;57(RR-5):1-30.
2. Kawai K, et al. BMJ Open. 2014 Jun;4(6):e004833
3. Mallick-Searle T, et al. J Mult Healthcare. 2016 Sep;21(1)447-454.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles (Herpes Zoster) - Clinical Overview. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview.html. Accessed Sep 2023.
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