Can You Die From Shingles Virus

Both are caused by the same virus although it s called varicella when it causes chicken pox.

Can you die from shingles virus.

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 is the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. This does not happen in reality because the virus travels from a nerve root to the skin.

But the virus can progress and cause potentially life threatening complications like pneumonia or. Some people say that you will die if the band of shingles crosses the midline of the body. Years later the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles also called herpes zoster is a souvenir of childhood chicken pox infection.

People with autoimmune conditions and people over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for shingles complications. 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. A chickenpox infection is usually mild.

The shingles virus can spread to the internal organs resulting in a condition called internal shingles. Almost all shingles deaths are in elderly or people with compromised immune system. 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. However if shingles isn t treated particularly severe cases can lead to death.

In very rare cases shingles can lead to inflammation or swelling in your lungs brain liver or death.