Skip to topic navigation
Skip to main content
About Us
Careers
Refer a Patient
Ways to Give
Contact Us
MAIN:
210-358-4000
Go to Patient Portal
Site Search
Search Site
Search
Please enter a search term
Find a Doctor
Skip Section
Search For a Doctor
Search by name, specialty, or location
Search
View advanced search options
View all doctors
View all doctors
Medical Services
Skip Section
Diabetes & Endocrinology
Heart & Vascular Care
Pediatrics
Pregnancy & Birth
Primary Care
Transplant Care
Walk-in Care
Women's Health
Senior Services
View all services
Search for a service
Search by medical service or keyword
Search
Locations
Skip Section
CareLink Offices
Dialysis Centers
Emergency Room
Outpatient Surgery Centers
Primary Care Clinics
Pharmacies
Specialty Clinics
Hospitals
Walk-in Care
View all locations
Search for a Location
Search by name or service
Search
Patient & Visitor Resources
Skip Section
Why Choose University Health?
Advance Directives
Billing & Insurance
CareLink
Compliments & Complaints
Dining Options
Find Community Health Resources
Hospital at Home Program
Language Assistance
Medical Records
NurseLink
Parking
Patient Experience
Patient Portal
Patient Safety
Planning for a Hospital Stay
Preparing for Outpatient Surgery
Spiritual Care & Chapel
Telemedicine Visits
Hospital Visitor Information
Health & Wellness
Skip Section
Community Health Fair Request
Community Health Programs
COVID-19 Response
Find Community Resources
Health Library
Health Risk Assessments
Healthy Recipe Videos
Injury Prevention Education
Institute for Public Health
Institute for Trauma-Informed Care
Smoking Cessation
Wear the Gown Health Videos
View all blog articles
Request an Appointment
Refill a Prescription
Pay a Bill
View Classes & Events
Donate Blood
About Us
Careers
Refer a Patient
Ways to Give
Contact Us
MAIN:
210-358-4000
Go to Patient Portal
Site Search
Search Site
Search
Please enter a search term
Doctors
Services
Locations
Conditions & Treatments
Adult Health Library
Pediatric Health Library
Tests and Procedures
Prevention Guidelines
Health Guides
Health Centers
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Neuroscience
Obesity and Bariatric Surgery
Orthopedics
Pregnancy & Newborns
Drugs, Herbs & Supplements
Drug Interaction Checker
Drug Search
Herbs, Vitamins & Supplements
Nutrition & General Wellness
Healthy Recipes
Nutrition Facts
Wellness Library
Your Family
Children's Health
Men's Health
Older Adults
Women's Health
News Center
Focus on Health
Health News
Newsletters
Healthy Living
Back and Neck Care
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Fitness
Mental Health
Nutrition
Smoking Cessation
Stress Management
Weight Management
Tools & Multimedia
Animations Plus
Calculators
Quizzes
Risk Assessments
Symptom Checker
ShareWIK Videos
Video Library
Contenido en Español
You are here:
Home
Conditions & Treatments
Adult Health Library
Skin Cancer
Adult Health Library
search
Submit Health Library Search
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Topic Index
Library Index
Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.
Click 'Topic Index' to return to the index for the current topic.
Click 'Library Index' to return to the listing of all topics.
What Do You Know About Shingles?
Learn about shingles, a painful skin condition, by taking this quiz.
1. Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, varicella-zoster (VZV). What does varicella mean?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Varicella is a Latin word used to tell the chickenpox/shingles virus from its much more dangerous relative, variola, which causes smallpox. Zoster is part of the virus name because it is the Greek word for girdle. A common symptom of shingles is painful rash that forms a band (girdle) of blisters halfway around the waist. Shingles comes from Latin word cingulum, which also means belt or girdle.
A.
Little pox
B.
Little belt
C.
Little scratch
D.
Little girdle
2. After causing chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus can stay in the body for years, before it causes shingles. Where in the body does the virus stay?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
After a bout of chickenpox has ended, scientists believe that the virus moves to nerve cells near the brain and spinal cord. There it becomes inactive. When the virus becomes active again, it often moves down a single nerve fiber to the skin. The virus then multiplies in the nerve ending, and pain develops. This is often followed in a few days by a rash where the pain is. The varicella-zoster virus belongs to a group of viruses called herpesviruses. Shingles is also called herpes zoster.
A.
In heart cells
B.
In nerve cells
C.
In lung cells
D.
In skin cells
E.
None of the above
3. What percentage of adults get shingles?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
About 1 in 3 people will get shingles during their lifetime. The chance of getting shingles goes up after age 60. Most people who get shingles have only 1 episode in their lifetime. But it is possible to get shingles more than once. People who have a weakened immune system may be more likely to get shingles and then get it again. Researchers aren't sure why only certain people get shingles. Experts advise the vaccine for anyone age 50 or older who has had chickenpox, even if you have already had shingles. The vaccine can reduce the risk of getting shingles again.
A.
10%
B.
12%
C.
15%
D.
25%
4. A rash that starts on 1 side of the body is a telltale sign of shingles. Which of these is also a symptom of the disease?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
These symptoms may occur first in the area where the rash will appear. Often the area first becomes painful or has a tingling or burning feeling. Other early symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, or upset stomach. After several days, a rash similar to chickenpox appears. The rash may occur in a band on 1 side of the waist, on 1 side of the trunk, or on 1 side of the face. A chickenpox rash doesn't hurt. But a shingles rash often is quite painful.
A.
Burning feeling on skin
B.
Tingling or itchy skin
C.
Skin numbness
D.
All of the above
5. How long does the shingles rash last?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Shingles blisters often scab over in 7 to 10 days. The rash clears up within 2 to 4 weeks. The rash generally doesn't cause scarring.
A.
A few days
B.
1 week
C.
2 weeks
D.
4 weeks
E.
C or D
6. When can a person with shingles pass shingles on to another person?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
A person with shingles can't pass shingles on to anyone else. But a person with shingles can pass on the virus. For this to occur, the person with shingles must have the shingles rash present. And the second person must not have had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine and must come in direct contact with the open sores of shingles. The second person will develop chickenpox, not shingles. A person who has been vaccinated against chickenpox is protected from exposure to a person with active shingles.
A.
Never
B.
Just before the rash appears
C.
While the rash is visible
D.
B and C
7. How is shingles treated?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
The length of a shingles outbreak and the severity of its pain can be eased by antiviral medicine. This is particularly true if treatment is started within 72 hours after the rash first shows up. Pain medicine may also be used, along with calamine lotion, wet compresses, and colloidal oatmeal baths to relieve the pain and itching. Early treatment also helps reduce the risk for a complication of shingles called postherpetic neuralgia. This is pain that lasts after the shingles rash goes away. Other treatments for postherpetic neuralgia include antidepressants, antiseizure medicines, and medicines that you put on the skin.
A.
No treatment is available
B.
Antibiotics
C.
Anesthesia
D.
Antivirals
E.
None of the above
8. Which of these is a possible complication of shingles?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
One of the main complications of shingles is pain that stays for a long time or doesn't go away at all. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. This may happen because the nerve cells that carry pain signals are most affected by the shingles virus. The pain can be severe and unrelenting. That's why it's important to see your healthcare provider right away for treatment if you develop symptoms of shingles. Antiviral medicines, antidepressants, and antiseizure medicinesmay help prevent postherpetic neuralgia. Shingles outbreak on the face is a particularly dangerous condition. This can involve the seventh and eighth cranial nerves and cause a condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This syndrome can cause facial paralysis and inner ear damage. People who develop a shingles rash on the face may have an inflammation of the eyes that can lead to vision problems. In severe cases it causes vision loss. Shingles on the face also may affect hearing.
A.
Vision problems
B.
Hearing problems
C.
Pain that doesn't go away
D.
All of the above
9. Once you've had chickenpox, there is no way to protect yourself against shingles.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and its complications. Experts advise the vaccine for anyone age 50 or older who has had chickenpox, even if you have already had shingles. The vaccine can reduce the risk of getting shingles again. Adults age 19 and older who have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get vaccinated. They have a higher risk of getting shingles and its complications.
A.
True
B.
False
Your score was:
Online Medical Reviewer:
Felson, Sabrina, MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Sather, Rita, RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Watson, L Renee, MSN, RN
Date Last Reviewed:
4/1/2023
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Related Services
Services
Infectious Diseases Services
Related Items
Diseases and Conditions
Shingles
Pediatric Diseases and Conditions
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) in Children
Tests and Procedures
Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody
Interactive Tools
Shingles Quiz
×