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Condition information, symptoms and causes and diagnosis and treatment
Mayo Clinic provides health information from public condition pages, including condition overviews and, where available, diagnosis, treatment, home care, alternative medicine, and appointment preparation.
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Disease or condition name in plain words, such as shingles or high blood pressure.
Example results
Shingles
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles isn't life-threatening. But it can be very painful. Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment may shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared.
Symptoms
Pain, burning or tingling
Sensitivity to touch
A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
Itching
Fever
Headache
Sensitivity to light
Fatigue
When to see a doctor
Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations: The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead to permanent eye damage. You're 50 or older. Age increases your risk of complications. You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system. This may be due to cancer, medications or chronic illness. The rash is widespread and painful.
Causes
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your nervous system and stays inactive for years. Sometimes the virus reactivates and travels along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles. But not everyone who's had chickenpox will develop shingles. The reason for shingles is unclear. It may be due to lowered immunity to infections as people get older. Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems. Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This is the same group that includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. As a result, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles isn't the same virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted infection. A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn't immune to chickenpox. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, though, the person will develop chickenpox rather than shingles. Chickenpox can be dangerous for some people. Until your shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious. Avoid physical contact with anyone who hasn't yet had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. That includes people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
Risk factors
Age. The risk of developing shingles increases with age. Shingles typically occurs in people older than 50. And people over the age of 60 are more likely to experience more-severe complications.
Some diseases. Diseases that weaken your immune system, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can increase your risk of shingles.
Cancer treatments. Radiation or chemotherapy can lower your resistance to diseases and may trigger shingles.
Some medications. Drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs can increase your risk of shingles. Long-term use of steroids, such as prednisone, may also increase your risk of developing shingles.
Complications
Complications from shingles can include: Postherpetic neuralgia. For some people, shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia. It occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. Vision loss. Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result in vision loss. Neurological problems. Shingles may cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), facial paralysis, or problems with hearing or balance. Skin infections. If shingles blisters aren't properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.
Prevention
A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. People who are eligible should get the Shingrix vaccine, which has been available in the United States since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The Zostavax vaccine is no longer available in the U.S., but other countries may still use it. Shingrix is approved and recommended for people age 50 and older, whether they've had shingles or not. People who've had the Zostavax vaccine in the past or don't know whether they've had chickenpox may also receive the Shingrix vaccine. Shingrix is also recommended for people who are 19 years of age and older who have weakened immune systems due to disease or medication. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. It's given in two doses, with 2 to 6 months between doses. The most common side effects of the shingles vaccine are redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Some people also experience fatigue, headache and other side effects. The shingles vaccine doesn't guarantee that you won't get shingles. But this vaccine will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease. And it will likely lower your risk of postherpetic neuralgia. Studies suggest that Shingrix offers protection against shingles for more than five years. Talk to your health care provider about your vaccination options if you: Have had an allergic reaction to any component of the shingles vaccine Have a weakened immune system due to a condition or medication Have had a stem cell transplant Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant The shingles vaccine is used only as a way to prevent shingles. It's not intended to treat people who currently have the disease.
Read on Mayo ClinicAbout the Mayo Clinic tool
Mayo Clinic’s Get condition returns condition overviews from a disease or condition name, including symptoms, causes and risks when available.
Get diagnosis and treatment returns diagnosis, care options and appointment preparation for a condition with a matching page.
Built from mayoclinic.org. Last checked Sep 28, 2026.
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Get condition
1 creditGet a Mayo Clinic disease or condition overview, including symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor, risk factors, complications and prevention when available. Only public condition pages are included.
What you provide
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Conditioncondition | Text | Required | Disease or condition name in plain words, such as shingles or high blood pressure.Example: Shingles |
What you get
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Causescauses | Text | Causes in plain text.Example: A blockage in the lining of the appendix, called the lumen, is the likely… |
Overviewoverview | Text | Overview of the condition in plain text. |
Symptomssymptoms | List | Symptoms in plain text. |
Page Linkpage_link | Text | Link to the Mayo Clinic condition page.Example: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-203… |
Preventionprevention | Text | Prevention in plain text, or null if no prevention section exists. |
Risk Factorsrisk_factors | List | Risk factors in plain text. |
Complicationscomplications | Text | Complications in plain text. |
Condition Namecondition_name | Text | Name shown on the condition page.Example: Shingles |
When to See A Doctorwhen_to_see_a_doctor | Text | When to see a doctor in plain text.Example: Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles… |
Example result
For Condition: Shingles
{
"causes": "Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your ner…",
"overview": "Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right sid…",
"symptoms": [
"Pain, burning or tingling",
"Sensitivity to touch",
"A red rash that begins a few days after the pain"
],
"page_link": "https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054",
"prevention": "A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. People who are eligible should get the Shingrix vaccine, which has been available in the United States since its approval by the Food and Drug Administrat…",
"risk_factors": [
"Age. The risk of developing shingles increases with age. Shingles typically occurs in people older than 50. And people over the age of 60 are more likely to experience more-severe complications.",
"Some diseases. Diseases that weaken your immune system, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can increase your risk of shingles.",
"Cancer treatments. Radiation or chemotherapy can lower your resistance to diseases and may trigger shingles."
],
"complications": "Complications from shingles can include:\n\nPostherpetic neuralgia. For some people, shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia. It o…",
"condition_name": "Shingles",
"when_to_see_a_doctor": "Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations:\n\nThe pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead …"
}Get diagnosis and treatment
1 creditGet diagnosis, treatment, home care, alternative medicine and appointment preparation for a Mayo Clinic condition. Only conditions with a matching diagnosis and treatment page are available.
What you provide
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Conditioncondition | Text | Required | Condition name in plain words, for example type 2 diabetes.Example: type 2 diabetes |
What you get
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Diagnosisdiagnosis | Text | Tests and exams with explanations from the diagnosis section, or null if absent.Example: A healthcare professional examines your arm for tenderness, swelling, unusual… |
Page Linkpage_link | Text | Link to Mayo Clinic diagnosis and treatment page.Example: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatm… |
Condition Namecondition_name | Text | Name of the condition on Mayo Clinic.Example: Type 2 diabetes |
Treatment Optionstreatment_options | Text | Treatment options and explanations, or null if absent. |
Alternative Medicinealternative_medicine | Text | Alternative medicine, or null if absent. |
Lifestyle and Home Remedieslifestyle_and_home_remedies | Text | Lifestyle and home remedies, or null if absent. |
Preparing for Your Appointmentpreparing_for_your_appointment | Text | Appointment preparation, or null if absent. |
Example result
For Condition: type 2 diabetes
{
"diagnosis": "The glycated hemoglobin test most often diagnoses type 2 diabetes. Also called the A1C test, it reflects the average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Results mean the following:\n• B…",
"page_link": "https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199",
"condition_name": "Type 2 diabetes",
"treatment_options": "Living with type 2 diabetes involves learning about the condition and lifestyle changes. Diabetes education is an important part of managing the condition. Management includes:\n• Healthy eating.\n• Reg…",
"alternative_medicine": "Many alternative medicine treatments claim to help people living with diabetes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says studies haven't shown enough proof for any alternative…",
"lifestyle_and_home_remedies": "Careful management of type 2 diabetes can lower the risk of serious, or even life-threatening complications. Try these tips:\n• Commit to managing your diabetes. Learn all you can about type 2 diabetes…",
"preparing_for_your_appointment": "Your annual wellness visit can include screening for diabetes. And it can include watching for and treating conditions that raise your risk of diabetes. These include high blood pressure, high cholest…"
}For developers
Call it from your code with one request. Change the values in input to run it on new data. To get an API key, open Developers at the bottom of Studio, turn on Developer mode and go to API keys.
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
--fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-raw '{
"api": "@mayo-clinic",
"visibility": "public",
"operation": "get_condition",
"version": 1,
"input": {
"condition": "shingles"
},
"response": {
"format": "json"
}
}'What you can do with it
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