Herpes zoster (shingles) is a painful viral illness that manifests as a rash or blisters on the skin. This disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. Rash symptoms often manifest as a band of redness, itching, and blistering on one part of the body.
Although the symptoms of childhood chickenpox eventually disappear, the varicella-zoster virus is never completely eliminated from the human body. In some instances, the virus reactivates in adulthood.