Tingling Pain on One Side of the Body: Not Muscle Pain, But Shingles

Tingling pain or band-like blisters on one side of the body may not be simple muscle pain or a skin issue, but an early symptom of shingles. If not treated within 72 hours of symptom onset, the condition can lead to severe pain that persists even after the skin lesions heal, a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia.

Shingles develops when the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in the body after a childhood chickenpox infection, reactivates. This reactivation occurs when the body's immunity weakens due to factors like aging, stress, overwork, or the use of immunosuppressants. The activated virus travels along nerves, causing pain, rash, and blisters.

According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, over 60% of shingles patients in South Korea are individuals aged 50 and above. The disease disproportionately affects middle-aged and older adults whose immune systems are more prone to weakening. Seasonal patterns also show a higher incidence during certain times of the year.