Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus resulting in a painful rash with lesions. It does not increase the risk of cancer in the general population
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus doesn’t cause problems, but it can reappear years later, causing shingles.
Shingles usually starts as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash starts as blisters that scab after three to five days and usually clears within two to four weeks. There is often pain, itching or tingling in the area where the rash develops.
Shingles is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.
Herpes zoster infection is very easy to diagnose, and antiviral medication can be used to treat the infection in the early stages. While the mechanism by which shingles increases stroke risk remains unclear, the possibility of developing a stroke after a shingles attack should not be overlooked.
Although herpes zoster is more common in patients with cancer than in those without, it is unknown whether the risk of cancer is increased for people with herpes zoster.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at greater risk of shingles compared with the general population.
People with a compromised immune system are at greater risk of developing shingles although it has not been previously studied in patients with COPD.
Patients in Taiwan with newly diagnosed herpes zoster found no increased risk of cancer in patients with herpes zoster.
Research findings show that there is no overall increased risk of cancer among patients with herpes zoster compared with the general population, regardless of sex, age or years of follow-up.
Data on other illnesses in patients with herpes zoster, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease, autoimmune disease and heart disease indicate that at the time of diagnosis of herpes zoster or enhanced surveillance for cancer after such a diagnosis is unnecessary