Shingles can affect anyone who has ever had the chickenpox virus, children included. That said, it’s most common to get shingles in later years. In fact, nearly 50 percent of cases of shingles are found in men and women 60 and older. It is important to note that shingles is not caused by the virus that causes genital herpes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles can have many symptoms. These can include pain, burning, numbness or tingling, sensitivity to touch, a red rash that begins a few days after the pain, fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over, and itching. Further, those affected by shingles can experience fever, headache, sensitivity to light and fatigue.
Although shingles is not life-threatening, it can cause extreme pain. This pain is usually one of the first signs of the condition. And this discomfort can be confused with heart, lung and kidney problems. Some can experience pain with no signs of the telltale rash.
Oddly enough, shingles usually affects just one side of the body (as in the case of Milton). This often occurs in the form of striped blisters that circle one side of the torso. Additionally, this rash can sometimes be seen in one eye or the side of the neck or face.
According to the CDC, some people have an increased risk of developing shingles. Those in this risk category include: people with impaired immune systems, those with HIV and those who take immunosuppressive medications.