Is shingles contagious?

[tigercat]

I may have the start of shingles and need to know if they are contagious. I go to my df's and help look after him sometimes. He is not in the best of shape and we worry about him catching something.
tigercat

 

[Darsa]

I will never forget the day I went to the ER, because I had a painful itchy rash along my left side. The attending took a look, took a large step away, and informed me I had shingles.

I have had chicken pox AND shingles; I've been told that the jury is out regarding whether or not it's contagious, not to mention what circumstances cause it to be contagious, since it's a variation of chicken pox.

I wouldn't risk it, personally.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Dh has had shingles twice and was asked by the doctor to be aware it could be contagious for those not yet exposed to the pox.

 

[Disfan1]

If your DF has already had chicken pox it should be OK. Someone with shingles can only give someone chickenpox, not a case of shingles. Ask your Dr. to be sure, though.

 

[swald91]

I'm not sure if shingles are contagious...my daughter had the chicken pox & then my husband got shingles...dr. said it was from her chicken pox. Not sure of the other way around???? (I'm sure someone here on the boards will know!)

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I've had shingles a couple of times. I was told it was from coming into contact with somebody who was carrying chickenpox. I have had chickenpox. I was also told that the virus sits dormant in the body until you are stressed and then it comes out. I would think that because it is a herpes virus you can pass it on to somebody who's immune system is weak.

 

[diesel]

When my dad was in the ICU with pneumonia he also happened to have shingles. There was a warning sign hung on his door that people who had not had chicken pox should not enter the room. So I’m assuming that shingles can expose people to the chicken pox virus.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't think they are "contagious" however it may activate someone getting the shingles (they have already had chickenpox) or getting chickenpox if they have never had it.

So short answer, I would not risk it.

 

[Plantlady]

I had shingles when I was 6. The youngest case the doctor had ever seen. I've had chicken pox twice.

anyway. Yes, contagious. Can cause the chicken pox, as others have stated.

 

[swandiverpatt]

From WebMD:

Exposure to shingles will not cause you to get shingles. But if you have not had chickenpox and you are exposed to shingles, you can get chickenpox. Someone with shingles can potentially expose you to chickenpox if you come into contact with the fluid in the shingles rash blisters.

One study reports that the virus that causes shingles may be released into the air from shingles sores. Covering the shingles sores with a type of dressing that absorbs fluids and protects the sore (hydrocolloid dressing, such as DuoDerm) appears to effectively contain the virus

 

[BonnieA]

I've had shingles twice. The MD said the the chicken pox virus stays dormant in your body and comes out as shingles. It may be triggered by a compromised immune system or some other weakness that allows the virus to reappear. I was told that you can pass the virus as chicken pox to someone who has not had it. But unless they are exposed to the shingles directly, it would be difficult to pass it. I did stay away from any babies though, no use taking any chances.

 

[corndog]

DW just had just come down with shingles before we went into the hospital to have our 3rd baby (last month!). There were some nurses that refused to treat her. Of course, other nurses called them idiots. Also, it sent the anesthesiologists into a tizzy. They did not know what to do with her--if they could still just give her the spinal for the c-section or if they had to knock her out all together. All that ended up happening was they just put gauze pads over the blisters and everyone got on with their lives.

If you think you're coming down with them, get to the doctor right away. Acyclovir can shorten the outbreak.

 

[merrily]

When my son was 9 mo old he got the chicken pox from someone who had shingles. At the time I had no idea where in the world he would have been exposed to chicken pox!

 

[suzannen]

DW just had just come down with shingles before we went into the hospital to have our 3rd baby (last month!). There were some nurses that refused to treat her. Of course, other nurses called them idiots. Also, it sent the anesthesiologists into a tizzy. They did not know what to do with her--if they could still just give her the spinal for the c-section or if they had to knock her out all together. All that ended up happening was they just put gauze pads over the blisters and everyone got on with their lives.

If you think you're coming down with them, get to the doctor right away. Acyclovir can shorten the outbreak.

I wanted to seriously second this. I believe you need to start treatment within 72 hours of the first blister. Not only will it shorten the outbreak, more importantly it will lessen the severity of it and decrease your chance of having permanent nerve damage and lifelong pain. Seriously - call your doctor pronto!

And, when I got shingles, both my doctor and the human resources department in my office advised me to stay home for the rest of the work week (and off the subway or other crowded places) because exposing a pregnant woman or someone else with a compromised immune system who had not had chicken pox could have serious reprecussions for them.

 

[Claire L]

I wanted to seriously second this. I believe you need to start treatment within 72 hours of the first blister. Not only will it shorten the outbreak, more importantly it will lessen the severity of it and decrease your chance or having permanent nerve damage and lifelong pain. Seriously - call your doctor pronto!

And, when I got shingles, both my doctor and the human resources department in my office advised me to stay home for the rest of the work week (and off the subway or other crowded places) because exposing a pregnant woman or someone else with a compromised immune system who had not had chicken pox could have serious reprecussions for them.

Agree with everything said above.

Claire

 

[Green Tea]

Shingles is your body's reaction to a dormant virus. You may end up with it at any time after you have had chicken pox, but you definitely can not "catch" shingles from someone with them. A person CAN catch chicken pox from someone with active shingles though.

 

[quentina]

Everytime I have an X-ray...guaranteed....shingles.

Not sure why??

Yes, it is very contagious.

Take the antibiotic ASAP (Valtrex???). Do not sleep on the same sheets etc until you dry and scab over.

Good luck, it is painful.

 

[WDWAurora]

My mom had shingles when I was 5 (with mono-she was an unhappy camper) and managed to give me the chicken pox. We were a happy household, let me tell you. Her mom came and took care of us both for a while, then took me back to her house to give mom more time when I felt a little better. My dad was a school principal and couldn't take off that amount of time, so we were lucky my grandmother could help!

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for all the replies. I did have shingles yearssssss ago and since then when things have been stressfull the tingling starts on the top of my foot. That's where I got it. Usually though I calm down and it goes away. This time though I have been sick since Feb and feel that my immune system is really not good. Yesterday my foot was sore and by the afternoon is was swollen. By the time I went to bed it was itchy. I woke up to a bit of an itchy rash just under one of my "ladies". If it is shingles it is just starting. I did take a homeopathic remedy that will help some but to be safe I am seeing my Dr. first thing tomorrow morning. I don't have to go back to my df's for a couple of days so will see what the Dr says tomorrow. If she doesn't think I should be around my df I won't. Maybe the homeopathic medicine will take it away. I will let you know tomorrow. The only thing is though is nothing is cut and dry for me. Like getting shingles on your foot is NOT the normal way of getting it, but that's just me.
tigercat

 

[rie'smom]

When I had shingles, it never itched. I felt a sticking sensation and thought that I had left part of the plastic string from a price tag on my pjs. Went from sticking pain that night to full blown pain the next day.
Like others have posted, when I'm tired or stressed, the nerve endings where I had shingles hurt. It feels like a burn from a match or cigarette.