I can't figure out if shingles are contagious!!

[minniecarousel]

OK - here's the problem: My 89 year-old mother had shingles 6 years ago and still has "post herpatic neuralgia" - residual pain from the shingles. My 63 year-old sister now has shingles (she had them 4 1/2 years ago too). I can't figure out if it's OK for Mom to be around sister. I'm not getting definitive answers from any of the websites that I've visited. I'll call Mom's doctor in the AM, but I might not get an answer 'til late in the day, and she'd like to go with me to see Sis (Sis had hip replacement surgery 11 days ago). I don't want to risk exposing Mom.

 

[Stacerita]

My father had a case of shingles years ago. The doctor said it was alright for most of the family to be around him. But my SIL who was pregnant at the time was told to stay away from him. Its been years since he had them so I can't remember everything the doc told us. I think he did say those with compromised immune systems and such also needed to clear of him as well. Sorry, I wish I could remember more and be more of a help. I would definately wait to get the word from your doctor before you take mom to visit though.

 

[Bashful2]

You can't catch shingles. After you have chicken pox, the virus lies dormant. Sometimes, especially during extreme illness or stress, the virus reappears in the form of shingles. It is possible to catch chicken pox from someone who has shingles.

 

[barkley]

pediatrician had us keep the kids away from grandma when she had shingles (but they had'nt yet had chicken pox), and had us keep them (when they had chicken pox) away from grandma (to prevent another shingles outbreak).

 

[delilah]

Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, so a person who isn't immune to chickenpox can catch it from a person with shingles. A pregnant woman who is immune to chickenpox would probably not infect an unborn child if exposed to shingles. If all shingles lesions are scabbed over, and covered, it is not very likely to spread to another person. Most kids these days get chickenpox vaccine at about 12mos old, and it is required in our state for school entry. There is now a new vaccine for adults (to prevent shingles). We don't carry it in our office at this time, so, I don't yet know all the details.

 

[KellyLynn]

i have had Shingles 4 times, you can not catch them. However as others stated if you have never had chicken pox then you can get them from the shingle sufferer.

 

[yeartolate]

If you are referring to shingles as just the nerve pain, no it is not contagious.

Shingles start with the same virus as chickenpox.

If your shingles come in the form of lesions - you are essentially contagious to someone who has never had chickenpox until the lesions have dried up.

 

[pkasbohm]

I do home daycare and a little boy who caught shingles after having chicken pox and my whole day care broke out in chicken pox!!

I was told that shingles were contagious and that you can get them again and again...i know someone who has had them 3 times and they have had the chicken pox also


hope that helps ya a little!

 

[Disney Doll]

I would keep them apart for a while.

Mom is older and her immune system isn't what it used to be, so why risk it?

I have known people who have caught shingles after having chickenpox.

I have known people who have caught shingles who never had chickenpox.

I have known people (myself) who have never had chickenpox and have been exposed to both chickenpox and shingles numerous times (I am a nurse) and have never caught either.

Genral rule of thumb is that if there are shingles lesions there is more of a chance of it being contagious.

But as I said, Mom is older, has already had a bout with shingles, why risk putting her through it again?

 

[minniecarousel]

Disney Doll - that is my take on all this too! I'm just trying to convince my Mom to stay home. The nurse at her doctor's office suggested that it would be better to keep them apart. I won't be going to my sister's for a few days after today, so maybe she can go with me later. We just don't want to leave Sis by herself too much just yet. She was doing so well until these shingles appeared - and even though she's had them before, she didn't recognize the pain right away.

 

[laura001]

No one can catch shingles from you, but they can catch chickenpox if they haven't already had chickenpox or had the chickenpox vaccine. The chickenpox virus lives in the blisters from shingles, and the virus can be spread until the blisters are completely healed. If you have shingles, you should stay away from babies younger than 12 months and pregnant women.

 

[Amberle3]

Okay, as one who as shingles I can tell you what my doctor told me:

Yes it's from the same general virus as chickenpox. It's a herpes virus, and as with herpes even after an outbreak the virus is still active on the skin and can be kind of passed on through viral shedding. No one can catch shingles from you but they get chickenpox.

http://familydoctor.org/574.xml

 

[nliedel]

Shingles are a virus in the Herpes family. Closely related to the same thing you get on your lip in cold sores. Shingles are, as others have said, a dormant phase (not the correct word but close) that you can get after Chicken Pox. You cannot catch them from others, chicken pox, on the other hand...