Children with shingles symptoms should speak with a doctor as soon as possible. Some rashes in children look similar to shingles but may have a more severe cause that needs treatment.
Some children may need antiviral medications for shingles. The medication works best when people take it within 3 days of the rash appearing.
Outlook
In most children, the rash and pain from shingles will go away in around 3–5 weeks.
In some cases, children develop long-term complications of shingles, such as ongoing pain. However, these complications are rare.
Summary
Shingles causes a painful rash on the skin. It usually only develops in people who have previously had chickenpox, but it can affect individuals who have had the chickenpox vaccine. The condition is rare in children.
Shingles occurs when the chickenpox virus, VZV, reactivates. However, doctors do not know why this happens in some people.
In most cases, the rash and any associated pain will go away within a few weeks. Some children may develop complications, but these are rare.
There is no cure for shingles, but antiviral drugs can help reduce symptoms. These work best when a person takes them within a few days of the rash appearing. And while not everyone needs treatment for shingles, health experts recommend consulting a doctor to rule out other conditions.
Vaccination against chickenpox is the best way to prevent shingles in children.
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