Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chicken pox. It affects mostly the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.
It only affects those who have previously had chicken pox. When the patient has recovered from CP the virus lies dormant in the base of some sensory nerve cells. After many years the virus may become active again. When activated the virus multiplies and spreads along the nerve it has been occupying, breaking out into a painful rash on the dermatome of the infected nerve.
Shingles can only be contracted from the dormant chicken pox virus – it is not contagious.
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