If you had shingles once, can you get them again?

Answer by  Connie45 (1110)

Yes. Since it's caused by a virus, it can only be controlled with medication, but there is no cure. Flareups occur when under stress or not eating a healthful diet.

Answer by  hulmer (1067)

Short answer: Yes. Shingles is a type of Herpes Simplex virus that lives in your nervous system after a person has had Chicken Pox. Often being ill or very stressed can bring on another case of Shingles. However, there is a vaccine to help with preventing bouts of Shingles. It never hurts to talk to your doctor about it.

Answer by  Michelle34 (11)

You can only get shingles if you had the chicken pox. It is an infection that I believe can occur over and over. I think that once you get them they only go into hiding and can flare up at any time.

Answer by  sonicfoundation (2597)

If you have had shingles once it is possible to get it again, though it is less likely to reoccur. Shingles is basically the chicken pox virus that has returned in a different form and is concentrated in a certain part of the skin. So the chances of getting it again are slim.

Answer by  taruun (163)

A viral infection cause by herpes zoster virus. Most people get shingles will get better and won't get them again.

Answer by  juanita57 (1374)

Yes, you can get shingles over again. Usually people don't, because it is like the chicken pox virus. Your body sometimes gets immune to it and sometimes it don't.