What is the difference between herpes and shingles

Colds sores and shingles are distinct viruses, but you can think of them as cousins since they have the same great, great, great-grandparents belong to the same viral subfamily, Alphaherpesvirinae. They have similar structures, but they cause very different infections. Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus that infected you as a child, and then went into hiding in nerve cells near your spinal cord, the dorsal root ganglion. There are medications you can take to reduce the severity of cold sores and the number of outbreaks you have.

You need a booster shot of antibodies from the vaccine to protect yourself from shingles before that virus reappears. Jeanne Morrison, PhD. Oral herpes, or cold sores, develop as a result of the herpes simplex virus. Herpes simplex virus ty Change Location X. We've expanded your view You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.

Search Close Search. Home Ask an Expert Herpes and Shingles? Ask An Expert Herpes and Shingles? Question: What is the relationship between herpes and shingles? What can be done? Answer: Herpes and shingles are actually caused by two different viruses, from the same family. Related Questions. Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?

My partner has begun to get up at night to urinate. He never did this before. He doesn't have symptoms of infection, like burning or pain.

Should he be worried? Chickenpox can be dangerous for some people. Until your shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious and should avoid physical contact with anyone who hasn't yet had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, especially people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. Most adults in the United States had chickenpox when they were children, before the advent of the routine childhood vaccination that now protects against chickenpox.

Studies suggest that Shingrix offers protection against shingles for more than five years. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component.

It is given in two doses, with months between doses. Shingrix is approved and recommended for people age 50 and older, including those who've previously received the Zostavax vaccine or had shingles. The most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness, pain, tenderness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and headaches.

The shingles vaccine doesn't guarantee that you won't get shingles. But this vaccine will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease and reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia. The shingles vaccine is used only as a prevention strategy.

It's not intended to treat people who currently have the disease. Talk to your doctor about which option is right for you. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles Open pop-up dialog box Close. Shingles Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, followed by a red rash with small, fluid-filled blisters.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Shingles affects the nerves Open pop-up dialog box Close. Shingles affects the nerves The shingles rash is associated with an inflammation of nerves beneath the skin. More Information Shingles vaccine: Should I get it? Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Shingles: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed May 9,