Can You Die From Shingles Virus

People with autoimmune conditions and people over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for shingles complications.

Can you die from shingles virus.

About 30 of people hospitalized for shingles have a weakened or suppressed immune system. The shingles virus can spread to the internal organs resulting in a condition called internal shingles. Shingles also called herpes zoster is a souvenir of childhood chicken pox infection. People can also develop pneumonia if the virus infects the lungs.

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

You should get regular care for shingles so your doctor can check for even these uncommon. A chickenpox infection is usually mild. However if shingles isn t treated particularly severe cases can lead to death. While it isn t a life threatening condition shingles can be very painful.

But the virus can progress and cause potentially life threatening complications like pneumonia or. This does not happen in reality because the virus travels from a nerve root to the skin. Years later the virus may reactivate as shingles. This is the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles.

In the u s about 96 shingles related deaths occur each year and almost all the deaths occur in elderly people or people with suppressed immune system.