You can only get
shingles
if you already had
chickenpox
and the dormant virus from the chickenpox infection becomes reactivated. Since only 20% of people who have had chickenpox eventually develop shingles, researchers are still trying to determine what makes some people more likely to develop shingles than others.
Some of the factors that make people more likely to develop shingles include:
Conditions
If you have a weakened immune system, you are more likely to develop shingles. Conditions that increase your risk include:
Medications and Procedures
Certain procedures and medicines may increase your risk, such as:
Age
People over age 60 are more likely to develop shingles than younger people.
Ethnic Background
Caucasian people are more likely than African Americans to develop shingles.