How Do You Get Shingles? Who’s at Risk? (podcast)
Causes, treatments, and the vaccine that can prevent shingles

Dr. Mark Shalauta, Family Medicine, Scripps Clinic
Causes, treatments, and the vaccine that can prevent shingles
Shingles is a downright nasty virus — and if you’ve had chickenpox, you’re at risk. Shingles is basically a second round of the same virus that causes chicken pox, varicella-zoster, which remains in your system long after the common childhood infection clears.
In this episode of San Diego Health, host Susan Taylor and guest Mark Shalauta, MD, a family medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo, discuss shingles in-depth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adults will develop shingles at some point in their lives — and the older you get, the more painful it tends to be. It’s not contagious on its own, but in theory a person who’s never had chickenpox and built an immunity can end up with chickenpox after coming in contact with someone who has shingles. Dr. Shalauta also sheds light on the newest and highly effective shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is recommended for those 50 and older.
Listen to the episode on the causes and treatments for shingles
Listen to the episode on the causes and treatments for shingles
Podcast highlights
Watch the San Diego Health video on shingles
Watch the San Diego Health video with host Susan Taylor and Dr. Mark Shalauta discussing the causes and treatments for shingles.