A one-page action card. Click the download button on the right side of the screen to get this checklist for free. Print it, or keep it in your phone photos. Shingles treatment works best when it starts within 72 hours of the rash appearing, and the clock starts before most people realize anything is wrong.
This is a checklist, not a diagnosis. It does not replace assessment by a clinician.
Stage 1: Before any rash, the window opens here
Tick anything you are noticing now
□ Burning, tingling, itching or deep aching in a band or stripe on ONE side of the body
□ Skin unusually sensitive to touch, clothing or bedding
□ Pain that does not match any injury or movement you can recall
□ Headache, fatigue or a mild fever alongside the above
□ You are over 50, or your immune system is compromised
Two or more ticked, on one side of the body? Book a same-day or next-day appointment now rather than waiting for a rash. Say the words “one-sided pain, possible shingles” when you book, because it changes how quickly you are seen.
Stage 2: A rash has appeared, start the clock
Note the date and time you first saw the rash. Write it here, because you will be asked and an estimate is worse than a record.
Rash first noticed
Date ______________________ Time ______________________
Where on the body ______________________________________________
Antiviral treatment is most effective when started within 72 hours of this moment.
Stage 3: Same-day red flags; do not wait
Any one of these means urgent care today
□ Rash near an eye, on the eyelid, forehead, or the TIP OF THE NOSE. This can threaten vision and shares a nerve branch with the eye.
□ Severe pain that is not manageable
□ A weakened immune system, chemotherapy, transplant medication, or long-term steroids
□ Rash spreading widely rather than staying in one band
□ Confusion, stiff neck, hearing change, facial weakness, or dizziness
If any of these apply, go to urgent care or an emergency department. For severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 911.
Stage 4: Questions to ask your pharmacist or doctor
Am I inside the 72-hour window for antiviral treatment?
Is the recombinant shingles vaccine publicly funded for my age group in this province?
If it is not funded, what does it cost here, and does my insurance cover it?
I have already had shingles. Should I still be vaccinated?
Do any of my current medications affect timing or eligibility?
What should I watch for that would mean lasting nerve pain rather than normal healing?
Stage 5: After the rash heals
Tick if any of these continue past healing
□ Pain in the same area after the skin looks normal
□ Pain triggered by light touch or temperature change
□ Sleep, appetite or mood affected by ongoing pain
Any of these may indicate postherpetic neuralgia, nerve pain that persists after healing. It is more treatable when raised early, so book rather than waiting for it to fade.
Find a walk-in clinic or pharmacist with real-time availability at medimap.ca, and read the full article on shingles symptoms and the 72-hour window on the Medimap Health Hub.
This is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose you or replace a conversation with a clinician who knows your history. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Find a specialist near you? Book with a doctor through Medimap — no referral needed.
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