A closeup view of human skin that has the building pustules of a Shingles Infection. This infection is caused by the same virus that causes Chickenpox
A closeup view of human skin that has the building pustules of a Shingles Infection. This infection is caused by the same virus that causes Chickenpox, the Varicella-Zoster Virus. When a person gets Chickenpox in their youth the immune system will usually beat it back but not totally destroy it. The surviving virus retreats to the spinal cord and base of the brain where it can lie dormant for decades. Then, without any warning, it can reactivate. It then will migrate along the nerve pathways to the skin where it causes the blisters of Shingles. These blisters, also known as pustules, will eventually burst and scab over. The fluid that is released contains not only pus, but also live virus. A person who get Shingles is contagious to anyone who has never had Chickenpox. It is not fully understood why the virus reactivates and in some people and not others. One theory is that stress and or a depressed immune system might be a factor since it often occurs in older people. Statistically those over 50 years old have a 30% chance of getting Shingles if they had Chickenpox when they were younger. People
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Location: Arizona
Photo credit: © Steven Love / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
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