Can shingles go to your brain?

In rare cases, shingles can spread into the brain or spinal cord and cause serious complications such as stroke or meningitis (an infection of the membranes outside the brain and spinal cord).


What are the symptoms of shingles in the brain?

Shingles of the brain is called herpes zoster encephalitis. It is a rare but serious complication. Besides the shingles rash, other symptoms start quickly. They include headaches, vomiting, fever and confusion.

What is the most common complication of shingles?

The most common complication of shingles is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).


What causes shingles in the brain?

Shingles in the brain can occur when the varicella-zoster virus (from childhood chickenpox) reactivates in your body and extends from the spinal nerves centrally. Shingles usually cause a painful and itchy rash in a single dermatome that does not cross the midline, and that goes away in several weeks.

Does shingles affect brain function?

Vision loss. Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result in vision loss. Neurological problems. Shingles may cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or problems with hearing or balance.


What is the Danger of Shingles Near the Face & Head Area?



Can shingles cause a brain aneurysm?

It can uncommonly infect the blood vessels of the brain, producing vasculitis resulting in thrombosis, hemorrhage, and stroke [1,2]. Only 8 cases of cerebral aneurysm or dissection in association with VZV infection have been reported in the English literature, and a causal relationship has yet to be confirmed.

Can shingles cause brain tumors?

A positive history of shingles was not significantly associated with glioma risk (mOR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.89–1.38). The mORs were similar stratified by tumor grade.

How do you treat shingles in the head?

Scalp Treatment for Shingles
  1. Apply cool water and cold compresses to the part of your scalp affected by the shingles rash.
  2. Pat calamine or menthol lotion on your head as a soothing scalp treatment.
  3. Avoid using harsh soaps or scented shampoos when washing your hair.


Can shingles on the head cause a stroke?

But researchers have found that shingles can also increase the risk of stroke, especially for those under age 40 where the shingles vaccine is not typically recommended. The risk is greatest in people with the rashes on their faces, perhaps due to the proximity to the brain.

Can shingles cause a brain bleed?

Shingles patients were 31 percent more likely to develop an ischemic stroke during the one-year follow-up than those without shingles. The risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke was 2.79 times higher for people with shingles infection than for people without shingles.

What organs can shingles spread to?

Body systems that can be affected include the eyes, ears, nervous system, throat, stomach, lungs, and brain. Internal shingles can cause symptoms such as persistent pain, abdominal pain, weakness in facial muscles (Bell's palsy), hearing loss or pain in the ear (Ramsay Hunt syndrome), and headache.


When does shingles become an emergency?

Go directly to an urgent care or emergency room if you experience sudden, extreme weakness in your face, arm or leg on one side of your body; trouble swallowing; confusion or difficulty talking; or vision changes.

What are the long term side effects of shingles?

Shingles generally resolve 2 to 4 weeks after blisters develop, sometimes leaving behind scarring and pigment changes on the skin. This article describes complications that some people can develop following a shingles infection. These complications include long-term pain, eye or ear problems, or serious illness.

When should I see a neurologist for shingles?

Anyone who develops a neurological complication from shingles should consult a neurologist. They can help identify the issue and provide treatment recommendations.


Can shingles cause sharp pains in head?

You may have sharp stabbing pains from time to time, and the affected area of skin will usually be tender. In some cases, shingles may cause some early symptoms that develop a few days before the painful rash first appears. These early symptoms can include: a headache.

Can shingles cause mental health issues?

Shingles is a painful rash that affects one in three adults over 50, but anyone who's had chickenpox is at risk. It can have lingering effects—including pain and depression.

How common is stroke after shingles?

Dr. Curhan explained her study found that for a first, or incident, stroke, the risk is up to 38% higher among people with a history of shingles compared to people with no such history. Coronary heart disease was 25% more likely in people who've had shingles.


Can shingles cause mini strokes?

According to a recent study published in PLOS Medicine, shingles can also lead to strokes and heart attacks. Previous studies had suggested an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks following shingles.

How can I reduce the risk of stroke after shingles?

The newer vaccine Shingrix has proven to be much more effective against preventing shingles, so Zostavax became obsolete. Since the stroke risk is likely related to an outbreak of shingles, getting the Shingrix vaccine should theoretically have at least as strong an association with reduced stroke risk.

What heals shingles quickly?

Put cornstarch or baking soda on the sores to help dry them out so they heal faster. Do not use thick ointment, such as petroleum jelly, on the sores. This will keep them from drying and healing. To help remove loose crusts, soak them in tap water.


What is the best painkiller for shingles?

Doctors have a variety of choices to treat shingles pain. Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are often used. More severe cases might call for use of Tylenol with codeine or oxycodone.

What is the most painful stage of shingles?

The most painful phase of shingles is usually 4-5 days after shingles symptoms first develop, when the red rashes form painful blisters filled with fluid. The pain gets better when the blisters become smaller and start to scab over.

What cancers are associated with shingles?

The risk for shingles was 30 percent higher in those with solid organ cancers, such as cancer located in the lung, breast, prostate or other organ, compared with someone without cancer. Researchers also found that increases in zoster risk for people with blood cancer was apparent two years before diagnosis.


Can shingles cause neurological symptoms?

Postherpetic neuralgia occurs if your nerve fibers are damaged during an outbreak of shingles. Damaged fibers can't send messages from your skin to your brain as they normally do. Instead, the messages become confused and exaggerated, causing chronic, often excruciating pain that can last months — or even years.

Is shingles linked to dementia?

Researchers investigating the effect of viruses on the brain found that shingles were not linked with an increased risk of dementia. The scientific journal Neurology published the findings today (Wednesday 8 June).