Up to 30 percent of people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, and the risk of developing it increases as we age.

About 1 in 3 Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime. While incidence rates seem to be plateauing or dropping over recent years, there is still an increased risk of developing shingles as you get older. Though not life-threatening, the condition can cause unbearable pain.

Shingles is usually easy to diagnose unless it develops without the telling rash. Shingles development without this rash is known as “zoster sine herpete” (ZSH), and while uncommon, it can present increased difficulties for individuals trying to attain an appropriate and expedient diagnosis.