Painful, recurring shingles

Q During the past three years, my grandmother has had bouts with shingles, which she says are quite painful. Is there something that she could be doing, without her knowledge, that's causing these recurring attacks?

S.P., Chicago

A She's probably not contributing to the recurring attacks. Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, and the condition occurs when the virus reactivates after lying dormant, sometimes after decades.

Shingles victimizes an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. annually. It most commonly occurs in older people, and could be associated with other infections, stress or a weak immune system.

Doctors say the virus produces a rash on one side of the body (usually the torso) or on one side of the face, near the eyes and nose. The rash usually begins as clusters of small bumps before blistering and forming scabs during its four-to-five-week course.

The Federal Drug Administration has approved a more potent version of the chickenpox vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles for adults who are 60 and older.

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