Look out for the following:

• The first symptom may be a tingling or prickling sensation.
• Pain or numbness on one side of the body.
• The pain may be an 'ache', or it could be a 'shooting' or 'stabbing' pain.
• You may feel like you have flu and have a high temperature.
• During these early stages, you may not have developed a rash. The rash will appear some time within the first few days of the illness. It will be made up of blisters containing fluid, and appears in groups or bands on one side of the body or face. It usually appears in a band because it is following the route of the nerves under your skin.

If you have any of these symptoms see your doctor as soon as possible.

Once the rash has appeared, the blisters will usually form scabs and then heal over the next two to three weeks. Some people will continue to feel pain for up to a month or even longer after the blisters have healed. You might also notice that your skin is a bit discoloured or scarred.

Shingles does have some complications including problems with sight or hearing. This is not very common but it may happen if shingles affects your face.