Can You Die From Shingles Virus

You should get regular care for shingles so your doctor can check for even these uncommon.

Can you die from shingles virus.

Both are caused by the same virus although it s called varicella when it causes chicken pox. This is the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. Some people say that you will die if the band of shingles crosses the midline of the body. Shingles causes fewer than 100 deaths annually.

But the virus can progress and cause potentially life threatening complications like pneumonia or. Shingles also called herpes zoster is a souvenir of childhood chicken pox infection. Years later the virus may reactivate as shingles. However if shingles isn t treated particularly severe cases can lead to death.

This does not happen in reality because the virus travels from a nerve root to the skin. In very rare cases shingles can lead to inflammation or swelling in your lungs brain liver or death. Almost all shingles deaths are in elderly or people with compromised immune system. People can also develop pneumonia if the virus infects the lungs.

A chickenpox infection is usually mild. While it isn t a life threatening condition shingles can be very painful. About 30 of people hospitalized for shingles have a weakened or suppressed immune system. After you ve had chickenpox the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain.

The shingles virus can spread to the internal organs resulting in a condition called internal shingles.