Viola Davis’ Shingles Diagnosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Seek Care

Award-winning actress Viola Davis is opening up about her experience with shingles, a painful viral infection that affects about one in three people in the United States. Her story is raising awareness about the condition and the importance of recognizing symptoms early.

What’s Shingles?

Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox becomes active again in the body. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains in the body and can reactivate years later.

Although shingles is more common in adults ages 50 and older, it can affect anyone who has had chickenpox, and the risk is higher in people with weakened immune systems. Even those who eat well, exercise regularly, and consider themselves healthy can develop the condition.

What are the Symptoms of Shingles?

Shingles symptoms often begin with pain, itching, burning, or tingling in a specific area of the body. Some people may also experience fever, headache, or chills before a rash appears.

The shingles rash typically develops as a band of blisters on one side of the body or face. The blisters usually scab over within seven to 10 days, while the rash generally clears within two to four weeks.

However, shingles can cause complications, including nerve pain that continues after the rash disappears. When shingles affects the eye, it can also threaten vision.

How’s Shingles Treated?

Antiviral medications can help shorten the illness and reduce its severity. Treatment works best when started as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours of symptoms beginning. Anyone who suspects they have shingles should contact a healthcare professional quickly, rather than waiting for the rash to worsen.

When Should You Seek Medical Care?

Listening to your body and acting early can make a difference. If you notice a painful or blistering rash, unusual tingling or burning, or other symptoms that could indicate shingles, seek medical evaluation quickly. Early treatment matters, even if the symptoms initially seem mild.

Seek immediate medical attention if the rash appears near your eye or you experience eye pain or vision changes, as shingles in this area can cause serious complications.

For medical evaluations, Jackson Medical Group offers services and appointments with primary care physicians across Miami-Dade County. For more information, visit https://medicalgroup.jacksonhealth.org/.

There are also several UHealth Jackson Urgent Care centers throughout Miami-Dade County to help patients access care when they need it immediately. For more information, visit https://jacksonurgentcare.com/.

Image credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons