Hi there, I was just wondering if anybody could shed some light on how I might have contracted the shingles virus? I am two months shy of my 18th birthday and 3 days ago I noticed a small rash on my lower back. I went to see my doctor who prescribed me anti-virals and he thinks that we caught the virus in time before any serious complications. I am very grateful, though I was just wondering how I got this virus, when usually it affects persons much older than myself??

Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles at any time. After you have chickpox, the virus becomes dormant. Sometimes it does resurface as shingles. I know a teenager who had shingles but mostly older people get it.

Stress can bring it on.

Hi I just wanted to let you know that when I was 13 years old I had shingles(herpes zoster) I was not allowed in school with it, I had to get a tutor. They kept me out for six weeks. They told me that stress will bring out the virus. This was in 1982. I'm glad you have medicine to take to keep it under control.. Good Luck
Ladybird.