Brief Answer: See the detail answer. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to Health Care Magic, As you know already, one important cause for recurrent shingles is Mental stress. Any factors which reduces your immunity can reactivate Herpes Zoster virus, which remains inactive for whole life in Ganglion. Fever blisters to your husband may not be the cause. On very first symptoms of getting shingles, if you start antiviral medications,after consulting your Doctor, it would clear the shingles without going to its full form, and giving you extreme pain, itching and other symptoms. If you are getting Shingles recurrently within short intervals ( 3 episodes within 6 months ), it is better you take long course of Antiviral medication in low dose. it will increase the interval between your attacks. Recurrence rate can increase with age. You should not be scared of medicines. These Antiviral medications are usually safe , tolerability is high, and very effective. As you mentioned you are physically and spiritually strong, i am sure with little help of antiviral medications, you will enjoy life better. You should also go for some routine relevant investigations. Hope you have got your answer. For any further query, do not hesitate. Dr H Hamdani

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