Shingles

What Increases Your Risk

Risks for developing shingles include:¹

• Having had chickenpox. You must have had chickenpox to get shingles.
• Being older than 50.
• Having a weakened immune system due to another disease, such as diabetes or HIV infection.
• Experiencing stress or trauma.
• Developing chickenpox prior to age 1.⁸
• Having cancer or receiving treatment for cancer.

If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, her baby has a high risk of developing shingles within his or her first 2 years of life.¹

Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication of shingles that lasts for at least 30 days and may continue for months to years. If more than one of the following risk factors is present, your risk increases for postherpetic neuralgia.⁷

• Developing shingles after age 50
• Having severe pain and rash during shingles
• Being female

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: March 21, 2007
Medical Review:	Wajeeh E. Nasser, MD - Family Medicine Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
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