Shingles? Anyone know about it?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

DH's cousin and his fiance are supposed to come to visit in a week....Well...he just found out he has Shingles(HOW a 25 year old gets shingles baffles me...but anyway). I know that it is only contagious to people who have not had chicken pox(and then THEY get chicken pox, not Shingles).

Well my 3 year old twins have never had Chicken Pox or the vaccination against it. So I have a coupe of questions:

Everyone I know WANTS their kids to get chicken pox...So is it a big deal to expose them to him?

Also...It says he's no longer contagious after the blisters get "crusted over" ...does anyone know how long this takes? He started the antivirals today.

Their tickets were $600 dollars a piece to visit us before my husband deploys and they didn't get trip insurance...I would HATE to have them cancel....Any input?

***Just dug out their shot records! THEY GOT THE VACCINE! Okay....so......basically just ignore this post LOL

 

[sue and co]

I have had shingles and was told by the doctor that it is only contagious if you touch the rash so as long as none of you touch him BUT if the airline know he has it they may not let him fly. My spots lasted about a week - 10 days after I started the anti virals but the problem with my eye (I had it on my head) and the pain lasted a lot longer.

I feel sorry for him it is incredibly painful.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I have had shingles and was told by the doctor that it is only contagious if you touch the rash so as long as none of you touch him BUT if the airline know he has it they may not let him fly. My spots lasted about a week - 10 days after I started the anti virals but the problem with my eye (I had it on my head) and the pain lasted a lot longer.

I feel sorry for him it is incredibly painful.

Poor guy...I don't know where it is located...if it is some where he can cover it he should be able to fly

 

[RCaroll]

All of a sudden my kids needed the vaccine or proof they had chicken pox for school. The photo of them covered with calamine lotion was not acceptable proof. so I had to take them for a blood test. If they do get it get proof from their Doctor to save for the future...good luck!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

All of a sudden my kids needed the vaccine or proof they had chicken pox for school. The photo of them covered with calamine lotion was not acceptable proof. so I had to take them for a blood test. If they do get it get proof from their Doctor to save for the future...good luck!

REALLY? Wow...no...I didn't have to prove that here in TX...although MAYBE they DID get the shot...I can't remeber...I'll have to go dig out their records

 

[pennymom]

DH's cousin and his fiance are supposed to come to visit in a week....Well...he just found out he has Shingles(HOW a 25 year old gets shingles baffles me...but anyway). I know that it is only contagious to people who have not had chicken pox(and then THEY get chicken pox, not Shingles).

Well my 3 year old twins have never had Chicken Pox or the vaccination against it. So I have a coupe of questions:

Everyone I know WANTS their kids to get chicken pox...So is it a big deal to expose them to him?

Also...It says he's no longer contagious after the blisters get "crusted over" ...does anyone know how long this takes? He started the antivirals today.

Their tickets were $600 dollars a piece to visit us before my husband deploys and they didn't get trip insurance...I would HATE to have them cancel....Any input?

You can only get shingles if you HAVE already had either chicken pox or the vaccine, as the virus lies dormant in the body until a stressor brings it out as shingles. It can be very painful, and is just as contagious as chicken pox. So if he is still contagious, your kids may be able to get the chicken pox virus from his sores touching the sofa, pillow, hand towels, etc., so if he does come visit he should definitely keep the sores covered at all times. Chicken pox can have some very nasty side effects, so you should check with you pediatrician about exposing your kids.
Shingles: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-topic-overview
Chick Pox: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-chickenpox-basics

 

[Straitlover]

I had shingles when I was in Jr High. My sister had it in I think 6th grade. So it's not just an old person's disease.

My sister had a baaaad case. My mother had never heard of shingles and thought she had poison ivy (this was back around 1973). Hers was located below the band of her bra, started at her sternum and went 3/4 around her body before my mother took her to the doctor. We were poor and had no insurance, so you didn't go to the doctor uless you were really sick. She had to get vitamin B12 shots at the doctor's office (the treatment back then) every day for like 2 weeks or something. fortunately, when I got it, my mother knew right away, so I only ahd to get one shot. Mine was just a little check mark looking rash on my hip, but it itched like the devil!

Did you know the old wive's tale is if the shingles make a ring around your body that you will die?

Hope he gets better soon!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I had shingles when I was 30 and had just had my 4th baby--like literally the day after I was released from the hospital I broke out. Mine was on my nose and eye and it was extremely painful. I had a percocet prescription to control pain from my C section, but I found myself taking it more because of the pain in my eye!

I was very worried about it being contagious to my kids, especially my brand new baby, but was just very careful not to wash my hands frequently and never touch them after touching my face.

They told me it would take about 3 weeks to heal but i think mine healed about a week earlier.

I hope your cousin heals quickly!

 

[Barbossa]

There is a vaccine for Shingles. Here's the CDC flier:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-shingles.pdf

 

[shortbun]

I wouldn't expose my kids to chicken pox even if they'd had the vaccine. I know many children who've gotten pox in spite of the vaccine. Chicken pox can cause brain damage or worse-death. Shingles are not age descriminating. I'm talking about your-how a 25 yo... statement. I had them when I was about that age-painful and lasted a long time. Please talk to your pediatrician about what kind of precautions to take for your whole family. I would be a nasty thing for your husband to get just prior to deployment!!!

 

[honugirl]

Unfortunately they won't give you the vaccine for shingles unless you're over 65? Something like that. I tried to get it and they won't give it to me 'cause I don't meet the age requirements even though I'm kind of immune compromised.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I wouldn't expose my kids to chicken pox even if they'd had the vaccine. I know many children who've gotten pox in spite of the vaccine. Chicken pox can cause brain damage or worse-death. Shingles are not age descriminating. I'm talking about your-how a 25 yo... statement. I had them when I was about that age-painful and lasted a long time. Please talk to your pediatrician about what kind of precautions to take for your whole family. I would be a nasty thing for your husband to get just prior to deployment!!!

I didn't mean to offend anyone...I just always assumed(and most of the things I've read about it) that it was something that mostly happens to older people.

And that's how I feel about chicken pox too...but a lot of people make no big deal about it, so I was confused.

I will call the doc just to make sure, even though they have the vaccine.

 

[Barbossa]

I believe there's currently a shortage of the vaccine, which might be the reason why they won't give it to anyone under 65. I'm not sure about this, though.

 

[kacaju]

my dd11 had shingles last summer

 

[BonnieA]

I've had shingles 3 times. Fortunately I caught it early every time and started Valtrex. I did have the shingles vaccine when I turned 60. But that didn't stop me from getting my 3rd case. None of mine ever got to the blister stage, so I can only imagine how bad it must be. The very mild cases I had were still horrible.
My MD said that it could be spread to someone that has never had Chicken Pox, but if it is kept covered it would be hard to pass it on.

 

[managerdreamer]

Shingles is different from chicken pox Shingles are only contagious if you touch the open sores. Chicken pox is an air born sickness. With Shingles if the sores are covered and if you don't touch them you will be fine. I work in the medical field I also know from experience had them myself last year. Since I work with immunosuppressed patients I was worried but they let me work since I had them covered. And none of my patient my kids or my hubby got them. I think you will be just fine!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Shingles is different from chicken pox Shingles are only contagious if you touch the open sores. Chicken pox is an air born sickness. With Shingles if the sores are covered and if you don't touch them you will be fine. I work in the medical field I also know from experience had them myself last year. Since I work with immunosuppressed patients I was worried but they let me work since I had them covered. And none of my patient my kids or my hubby got them. I think you will be just fine!

Thank you for the info! I honestly think we will too as long he stays covered up. It would be asking WAY too much of my 3 year olds not to touch their "Cousin Poopie"...LOL...family nickname is "Pookie"...kids couldn't say it right...you get the point

But they are VERY healthy kids who take their vitamins and rarely get sick...plus they DO have the immunization(if it does indeed help)...So I think it will okay.

 

[rie'smom]

Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus that causes chickenpox. After you have had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in your nerve roots and remains inactive until, in some people, it flares up again. When the virus becomes active again, you get shingles instead of chickenpox.

Anyone who has had even a mild case of chickenpox can get shingles. People who have a weak immune system are vulnerable to reactivation of the virus that causes shingles. Many factors can weaken your immune system, including aging, injury, and illness. Some medicines slow down the immune system. For example, medicines that destroy cancer cells (chemotherapy) can interfere with the immune system.
Recommended Related to Shingles

Understanding Shingles -- Treatment

Although you can take steps to shorten the duration of a shingles outbreak, the virus must often simply run its course. Postherpetic neuralgia is difficult to manage and can last months or even years, in rare cases. So the best approach is early and immediate treatment. Also, early medical attention may prevent or reduce the scarring that shingles can cause.

Read the Understanding Shingles -- Treatment article > >
Transmission

Exposure to shingles will not cause you to get shingles. But if you have not had chickenpox and have not gotten the chickenpox vaccine, you can get chickenpox if you are exposed to shingles. Someone with shingles can expose you to chickenpox if you come into contact with the fluid in the shingles blisters. If you cover the shingles sores with a type of dressing that absorbs fluid and protects the sores, you can help prevent the spread of the virus to other people.

 

[ZachnElli]

I just got over shingles myself and I was only contagious for a few days after I was diagnosed. I first noticed it as a slight rash on Monday, diagnosed on Friday and it had scabbed over by Monday-Tuesday.