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A member asked:
Can antibiotics treat shingles?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
No: Shingles is caused by a virus, not a bacteria, so antibiotics will not work on it. An antiviral medication may be used however. Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed if the skin lesions get infected because then skin bacteria may cause a secondary infection.
Answered 3/6/2018
6.5k views
No: Shingles is medical condition caused be reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella). Antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections) are not routinely used, unless the treating physician believes that a bacteria such as strep or staph has infected the skin involved with the shingles. Antivirals, however, are useful for the treatment of shingles.
Answered 11/6/2019
6.5k views
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