Chickenpox

The early signs of a shingles outbreak are like the symptoms of many other diseases: flu-like symptoms (headache, fever, chills), numbness, pain, itching, a rash.

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the pain that can last for months or even years after a bout with shingles.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that, "Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in the nerve tissue. As we get older, it is possible for the virus to reappear in the form of shingles. Shingles is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime."