What is shingles?. how do you get it and how do you get rid of it?

Shingles is a re-appearance of chicken-pox in a person who has been previously infected with chicken-pox. It usually occurs when a person is under a great deal of stress or is immune compromised (like they have another disease). How it works: when you get chicken pox the virus lays dormant along your nerves. When your immune system is down for some reason, the virus takes advantage of this and travels along a few nerves to your skin. When the virus reaches your skin, it causes an itchy rash in an area of your body. It may also be accompanied by pain or numbness, and other signs of an infection (like fever and weakness). It will eventually go away on its own, but if you think that you have shingles, see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.