Can You Die From Shingles Virus

But the virus can progress and cause potentially life threatening complications like pneumonia or.

Can you die from shingles virus.

Almost all shingles deaths are in elderly or people with compromised immune system. This is the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. Both are caused by the same virus although it s called varicella when it causes chicken pox. People can also develop pneumonia if the virus infects the lungs.

In very rare cases shingles can lead to inflammation or swelling in your lungs brain liver or death. Shingles causes fewer than 100 deaths annually. Some people say that you will die if the band of shingles crosses the midline of the body. People with autoimmune conditions and people over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for shingles complications.

However if shingles isn t treated particularly severe cases can lead to death. The shingles virus can spread to the internal organs resulting in a condition called internal shingles. After you ve had chickenpox the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. A chickenpox infection is usually mild.

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. About 30 of people hospitalized for shingles have a weakened or suppressed immune system. You should get regular care for shingles so your doctor can check for even these uncommon. This does not happen in reality because the virus travels from a nerve root to the skin.

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus the same virus that causes chickenpox.