Harry: Well that's very unusual.

Barbara: I had them when I was about six or seven and again when I was about 35. I'm now 77 and I've got them again.

Harry: It's very unusual to get them at the earlier age that you mentioned. I'm sure you know that this condition is predominantly one of senior citizens unless you've got something else wrong with you, which I'm sure doesn't apply to you. For instance, if you have AIDS you can get shingles at any age because your immune system is compromised. But that's not the case here and therefore I would say that your experience is very unusual indeed. Were you prescribed some medication for shingles?

Barbara: Yes, I was on Zelitrex but I've finished the box. How long does the shingles last? I've had it three times but I can't remember.

Harry: Well usually the rash and little blisters will last about a week to 10 days and then it will disappear. It's like having chicken pox over again.

Barbara: What causes it to come up like this though?

Harry: The virus that causes it is actually the chicken pox virus but what happens is that once you've had chicken pox that virus remains with you for the rest of your life.

Barbara: What causes it to surge up after all this time?

Harry: That's a very interesting question. As I mentioned earlier, if you've got something wrong with you - for instance if you had AIDS, you were on cortisone, you had some type of cancer or you were malnourished - then your immunity or defence mechanisms are impaired. In other words, anything that depresses your immunity can then result in a reactivation of this virus. The virus is always lying there and when your defences are down it can come up again.

Barbara: Do you think I'll get it again in 40 years time?

Harry: Well in view of your history I must say that it is possible.

Barbara: Can your immunity be checked?

Harry: It's very difficult in your particular instance. If we did the tests that we have available on you I'm sure we'd find that your immune system is normal. But with the other conditions that I've mentioned such as AIDS, then we can demonstrate very, very clearly the impaired defence mechanisms.

Barbara: So there is nothing further that I can do?

Harry: No, there's nothing else to be done. I'm sure that otherwise you live a good life, you have a good diet and you do exercise. I hope you don’t smoke and you don't drink excessively. So provided you're living a prudent lifestyle there is really nothing else that you can do.

Barbara: Okay, thank you.