Is the Shingles contagious?
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Shingles is not contagious. Shingles occurs only when the virus in a person's body becomes active. Contact with an infected person will not cause shingles. However, although shingles is not contagious, contact with a person with shingles could lead to chicken pox in someone who has never had chicken pox and has not received the varicella vaccine.
Yes, if you have not had chicken pox it is. The little blisters of a shingles outbreak are positively full of the Herpes Zoster virus which causes chicken pox. You can have it on your hands, touch someone who has not had chicken pox and give it to them. They will then catch chicken pox. Keep the towels and clothing separate, wash seperately and keep the shingles covered. Be really careful disposing of the bandages as well, they are also virus loaded. If you have had chicken pox already though- you are safe.
My mom got shingles over a year ago and still suffers from severe nerve pain from it. She had it in her foot and can barely walk now. We have spoke to many doctors about it because she was worried that my kids would get it and the doctors all told us that shingles is contagious IF the other people have not had chicken pox yet and in that case the person with shingles would cause the other person to have chicken pox, not shingles. I hope that makes sense.
Also shingles is only contagious when there are Blisters and sores. Once that is gone the shingles patient is no longer contagious to anyone.
'Shingles — also known as herpes zoster — is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerves. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.
Although painful, typically shingles isn't a serious condition. Sometimes, however, the rash can lead to a debilitating complication called postherpetic neuralgia. This condition causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or even years after the rash clears up.
Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and reduce the risk of complications.'
I know of people who have had shingles re-occurring at different times in later life.
yes, you don't spread shingles, but if someone hasn't had chicken pox before they can get them from you.
shingles and chicken pox are the same virus. when you get chicken pox the virus that causes it stays in your body. it lays dormant in your nerve endings. at any point in your life you can then develop shingles. can from being stressed, or anything that causes your immune system to be depressed. because its in the nerve ending of the body, that's why shingles is so painful...
The virus that causes shingles is the same that causes chicken pox. I had shingles when my son was 11 years old. Neither he nor his 10-year-old brother had been vaccinated (not yet available then) and neither had had chicken pox. Within 2 weeks, my 11-year-old came down with chicken pox.
Shingles usually affects the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. If you have shingles, you really don't pass it on as shingles and if you're around someone unvaccinated, it may, as with my older son, cause chicken pox. My younger son was tested for the titer before he went to college, since the vaccine was required if the student hadn't had chicken pox. Lucky youngster, he had developed the antibodies and didn't need the the vaccine.
YES! If a person has not gotten the chicken pox then they can get them, from a person with shingles.
I just got over shingles. I was so embarrassed to pick up my meds. Got home and read up shingles on internet. still made me feel dirty but gave me more understanding. Doc told me I i will most likely have more outbreaks cause now the virus is awake and active, lovely. Area is very painful, they cause nerve damage. just hoping i never get an outbreak on my face. Doc told me they weren't contagious but I do find that hard to believe since cold sore which is also herpes are contagious when they are oozing And things on my side oozed for a week and then left deep holes on my side until tehy scabbed over.
Good luck
Shingles ( herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of your body. Shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. Once you have had the chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in the nerve roots and remains inactive until, in some people, it flares up again. When the virus becomes active again, you develop shingles instead of chickenpox. Anyone who has had the chickenpox ( even a mild case) can get shingles. even those who are in good health. It is thought that the virus becomes active again when your immune system ( allows us to fight infections) is weakened. Emotional or physical stress may weaken your immune system and trigger the reactivation of the virus. causing shingles. Exposure to shingles will NOT cause you to develop shingles; however, if you have NOT had chickenpox and you are exposed to shingles, you CAN develop chickenpox, since both are caused by the same virus. Someone with shingles can potentially expose you to chickenpox for one to two days before the bandlike rash appears and then for up to one week after his/her rash develops. So, if you have had the chickenpox,most times, you are not likely to get shingles. But, this does not always apply. I have known people who had the chickenpox and then later on in life, did get shingles. Just try to be aware of any flu-like symptoms without a fever, sensitivity to light, headaches. Should you feel such symptoms then be on the alert for the rash, etc. I hope that this helps.
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