After experiencing painful symptoms, Dr Emily Andre has been diagnosed with shingles.
For most healthy adults, shingles isn’t life-threatening, but it can cause serious complications in those with weakened immune systems.
Emily, who shares three children — Theo, Amelia, and Arabella- with her husband, Peter Andre, and is step-mum to Peter’s children, Junior and Princess, is hoping to raise awareness.
Pic: Emily Andre/Instagram
‘A little health update, this week I was unexpectedly diagnosed with shingles,’ she told her followers in a candid video. ‘So I thought I’d do a quick video to explain what it is, in the hope it helps raise awareness for anyone who might not be familiar.
‘I noticed a pain and just odd sensations under my arm here, and then a couple of days later the rash appeared on my back on one side.’
Emily Andre, Junior Andre, Princess Andre and Peter Andre attend the Pride Of Britain Awards 2025.
Pic: Mike Marsland/WireImage
‘It’s definitely not something I expected to be dealing with, but hopefully sharing this does raise some awareness,’ Emily continued.
The mum-of-three later signed off: ‘As for me, I’m kind of hoping to start feeling better soon and back to myself. I hope that was helpful. Stay well, everyone.’
Pic: Emily Andre/Instagram
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. It’s the same virus that most people contract as children, and also causes chickenpox.
Once a person is infected, the virus stays dormant in the body, but if the immune system is temporarily weakened, it can reactivate.
Dr Emily MBChB BSc, told her followers: ‘In short, shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash. One of the most common questions is whether it’s contagious.
Peter and Emily Andre. Pic: Instagram
‘You can’t pass shingles on to someone else, but you can pass on chickenpox to someone who hasn’t had it before or hasn’t been vaccinated.
‘It’s best to avoid contact with: anyone who is pregnant and hasn’t had chickenpox before, people with a weakened immune system (for example, those having chemotherapy), and babies under one month old.’
Peter and Emily Andre. Pic: Peter Andre Instagram
‘Let’s just say… not exactly how I planned to spend the week, but a good reminder to listen to your body and get things checked if something doesn’t feel right,’ Emily urged.
Emily’s fans praised her for being so candid and for sharing information about shingles.
‘Hope you’re on the mend soon,’ wrote one person, while someone else said: ‘Wishing you a very speedy recovery Emily and thankyou for the info on shingles.’
Watch Emily’s video below: