No, but it can be one of the first presenting signs of an immune system
problem.  Shingles, per se, is not considered an OI.

years

When it appears is a function of how far the immune system has
deteriorated.  So that means just about any time.

If you have a concern, get tested for HIV, don't try to guess by
whatever 'signs' you think you see.

B

Colebunders  R, Mann  JM, Francis  H, Bila  K, Izaley  L, Ilwaya  M,
Kakonde  N, Quinn  TC, Curran  JW, Piot  P.

Herpes zoster in African patients: a clinical predictor of human
immunodeficiency virus infection.

J Infect Dis. 1988 Feb;157(2):314-8
[PubMed ID: 88089035]    
   
Abstract:
A recent episode or a history of herpes zoster was found in 30 (11%) of
284 patients hospitalized with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire. Of 146 African
patients with a history of herpes zoster who were referred to us by
physicians at the Mama Yemo Hospital, 133 (91%) were HIV seropositive.
The clinical characteristics of the herpes zoster episodes did not
differ between HIV-seropositive and -seronegative individuals, except
that 23% of the HIV-seropositive patients experienced recurrences
compared with none of the HIV-seronegative patients (P = .05). No
patient developed a generalized herpes zoster eruption, and only
patients with ophthalmic zoster developed related complications.
Patients who experienced severe pain during their herpes zoster attack
lost more weight than did those who had only minor pain (P = .0003).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=3335810&query_hl=5

Shingles is a fairly classic disease. It is caused by a herpesvirus,
Varicella Zoster Virus. This has an infection rate of 90%+ of adults in
what could loosely be termed the Western world.

On first infection this is the virus that causes the well known
chickenpox (assuming you aint lucky enough to have got infected and got
no disease occur). When it reactivates it tends to produce a more
restricted spread of skin lesions which is shingles, or herpes zoster.

You can get shingles any time after that first infection time period,
however many people simply dont see a reactivation (only about 1 in 10 to
1 in 20 do if I remember my figures correctly off the top of my head).
The typical quoted risk is age...as you get older the chances of
developing shingles increases the association usually attributed to
waning immunity as you age, with women seeming to have a higher risk
than men. So a not uncommon pattern for the biology of th virus in an
average person would be chickenpox as a kid aged 5, and reactivation and
shingles in late middle age....

As I said earlier its a herpesvirus, in common with the lot of the family
its opportunistic and if your immune system is shot, it may well take
advantage.

Tim
--
When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart
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