Anyone's teenager ever have the shingles?

[Mimi Q]

Older DD showed me what I thought was a rash Monday. She had used some salt scrub the day before, and we thought it might be because of that. Last night she said it was bothering her. So I looked at it again and it had spread. It looked like chicken pox but confined to that small area. I took her to the doctor this morning and he said she had shingles. I didn't know teenagers usually got the shingles. I feel bad that I didn't take her to the doctor earlier.

 

[agotta]

I had shingles when I was 11. I believe it's the same kind of thing as chicken pox. But I always had wierd skin things...I don't think it's the norm, but can definitely happen.

 

[WDWAurora]

DH's brother just recovered from them-he's only 25! We were all surprised since it's usually something older people get. It took him a while to feel ok. Also, make sure she's not around people who haven't had chicken pox or the vaccine-they can pass it on.

When I was 5, my poor mother had mono and shingles at the SAME TIME. I caught the chicken pox from her then, so it does happen (no other exposure). My grandmother had to stay with us for weeks since mom couldn't take care of herself, let alone me!

 

[floridafam]

I hope she feels better soon. I was in my late 20's when I had them.

The pain is so bad it even hurts to have a light shirt rubbing against them.

My Dr. said it was brought on by stress. I'm not sure how true this is.

Is she taking an anti-viral?

 

[luvwinnie]

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000858.htm

here is info

 

[mickeyboat]

My mother had shingles, and it was something that flared up her entire adult life. It made her miserable.

Here's hoping it isn't too bad for your daughter.

Here's a question. Did your daughter have the vaccine? Has she had chicken pox before? Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the same virus.

Denae

 

[Steffi]

My niece's boyfriend had shingles when he was 17. My niece had chicken pox before that; I think her boyfriend got shingles after being exposed to her chicken pox. I understand that shingles are very painful and unpleasant...best wishes to your DD for a speedy recovery!

 

[SaratogaShan]

Shingles is just a reemergence of the chicken pox virus. Once a person has chicken pox, the virus is always in your body. It lies dormant in the spinal nerve roots, and most people will never have symptoms again. Sometimes though, if a person's immune system is depressed (due to stress, some types of medication, another illness, malnutrtion etc) the virus will reappear in the form of shingles. It definately can be passed along to someone who has not been exposed to chicken pox yet! I hope your daughter feels better soon!

 

[mrsmom]

I had shingles when i was 24 yrs old and in my first trimister of pregnancy..
Kim

 

[DisneyDotty]

I had them when I was 13. Miserable. Only good thing was they got me out of swimming in PE.
Good luck and speedy recovery to your daughter!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Not as a teenager, but my youngest daughter got them twice when she was under the age of ten.

Hugs to your teenager! It's not fun!

 

[mickeyfan2]

DH had them as an adult.

 

[Mimi Q]

Here's a question. Did your daughter have the vaccine? Has she had chicken pox before? Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the same virus.

Denae

She had chicken pox in first grade.

 

[dismom9761]

My second son had the shingles when he was six years old.My Dr. could not believe what he was seeing and got two other Dr.s to look.He was miserable.

 

[Chelley00]

My oldest DS had them when he was 10. He had chicken pox when he was 5. Apparently it happens when their immune system is comprimised, just as the above poster said. Our son had surgery a few months before and was on some major antibiotics for awhile, which caused his immuno problem.

He was miserable, and has some scars because he had them so bad

 

[lulugirl]

I had shingles when I was 27. I started on the anti-viral Acyclovir right away, it was a huge help and I wound up having a very mild case. My Dr. also gave me vicadin for pain, I took the vicadin followed by a glass of wine....made my shingles much more bearable!
Hope your Dd has a quick recovery and if she is not already on anti-virals I would definitely ask her Dr. about them ASAP.

 

[Mimi Q]

Thanks for all the good wishes.

I started on the anti-viral Acyclovir right away, it was a huge help and I wound up having a very mild case.

Dr. said since she had had them three days it was too late for oral medication. He did prescribe Zovirax ointment.

 

[MsDisney23]

I had them vry bad this past summer. I was so bad, they had to put me in the hospital. Over 75% of my body was covered! I thought I was going to die with the pain. This is common in transplant patients which I did not know. I was on meds for over 5 months. We used alot of Benedryl Anti-Itch Cream, that work wonders. I hope you DD is feeling better soon. Like you I had no idea that teenager's could get them.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I want to give your daughter many hugs!

My dad had shingles when I was 2. I got an extremely bad case of the chicken pox from him. I was covered head to toe in chicken pox. I have many scars to this day to prove it. Try oatmeal baths, my mom claims these as the best thing for chicken pox/shingles.

 

[benjosam]

My daughter had shingles when she was 5!

Our doctor said this was due to stress! My DH was in hospital with pneamonia (sp) and DS2 (10 weeks) was in hospital with broncilitis. She only had a mild case on her trunk, but was in quite a lot of pain, although she wasn't really ill.

Hope your DD recovers soon.