Overview
- Lionel Scaloni disclosed Wednesday that he had a herpes zoster, commonly called shingles, after the World Cup and linked the episode to extreme stress and exhaustion.
- Herpes zoster occurs when the varicella‑zoster virus that causes chickenpox wakes up from nerve root dormancy because immune defenses fall.
- The condition often begins with intense nerve pain that appears several days before the characteristic blistering rash, which can delay diagnosis.
- Major complications include postherpetic neuralgia, long‑lasting nerve pain that can persist for months or years, and zoster ophthalmicus, which can threaten vision when the face is involved.
- A highly effective two‑dose vaccine is recommended for adults 50 and older and for immunocompromised adults, and doctors urge early care and vaccination to lower disease and long‑term pain risk.