Symptoms and Screenings for Shingles
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What are the symptoms of shingles?
However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain in the area of the skin before the rash appears
- Rash, which typically appears after 1 to 5 days once symptoms begin and initially looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters
- Blisters typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and clear up within 2 to 4 weeks
Other early symptoms of shingles may include:
- Stomach upset
- Feeling ill
- Fever and/or chills
- Headache
The symptoms of shingles may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is shingles diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will do a complete physical exam and ask about your medical history, specifically about whether you have ever had chickenpox.
Your healthcare provider will likely know right away that it is shingles based on the unique rash. The rash usually appears one area on one side of the body or face. It appears as red spots, small fluid- or pus-filled vesicles, or scabs.
The healthcare provider may also take skin scrapings for testing.