Shingles (Zoster):
Information for adults

Anyone who had chickenpox as a child can get shingles. It usually happens in older people (aged 30 and older); people in their 70s are 15 times more likely to get shingles than younger adults. The most common complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia with chronic pain, which is more likely also to occur in people who get shingles over the age of 60. In 10% of people with shingles, 1 or more non-pain complications occur.

Shingles usually occurs only once, but outbreaks can keep occurring, and they can arise in different skin areas. 

Sometimes injury (trauma) to the area or a recent illness will trigger shingles. People with poor immune function (HIV/AIDS, cancer, or people on chemotherapy) are more likely to get shingles, which may be more severe and come back more than once.