Shingles, medically known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection characterized by a painful rash, which often occurs in a band-like pattern on one side of the body. It is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once someone has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the nervous system and can reactivate years later, resulting in shingles. One of the most common questions individuals ask about shingles is, How long does it last?
