Daniel asks…
what cause shingles and is it contagious?
The lady my wife takes care f does not get up out of bed EVER even when she can and nly wants to bath once are twice a week could that of cause it?Just tryin to figure it out.
admin answers:
Shingles is caused by the virus that causes chicken pox. If one has ever had chicken pox they can get shingles. Viruses continue to live on your nerves even after you no longer have symptoms from the virus. Shingles can thereby be re-activated from a childhood Chicken Pox infection much later in life. And its typically older folks who get it. Folks w/ compromised immunity can get it as well. It can come on at any time. I don’t think it has anything to do with bathing (or not bathing). From what I understand its not contagious as long as people who come incontact w/ the shingles sufferer have already had chicken pox.
James asks…
Can exposure to chicken pox cause shingles?
I had chicken pox when I was young so I am unable to get them again, but I know the virus stays with you and can later turn into shingles in some people. What I need to know is if exposure to chicken pox can cause an outbreak of shingles. I have a compromised immune system due to a neurological disease so my chances of getting shingles are increased. I have found information saying that exposure to shingles can cause chicken pox, but I can not find anything saying if it works the other way as well. Any serious info is greatly appreciated!
Yes, chicken pox and shingles are related. They are from the same disease!
admin answers:
I had shingles over thanksgiving and I also have a low immune system and chicken pox serverly as a child. The virus hides in your spine until stress and a low immune system cannot fight it off when it inflames. It inflames a nerve, reaches the top of the skin and causes a rash. I suffer from postneualgia or something like that-pain after shingles. I am only 20 also. Shingles is only contagious to people who have not had chicken pox and it is transmitted by air NOT TOUCH…it is only air borne when the blisters have opened. Dont let anyone tell you diffrent. I am a med student and have been to three doctors. Chicken pox cannot give you shingles…just later on if you have low immune system and high stress. I know someone is going to say-what 20 yr old has stress that bad. Me- my father passed away after 3 mth battle of cancer at age 49. I was his caretaker in my fist semester in college…dealing with his death and losing my best friend is hard…so yes, I have stress…good luck with it. There is NO prevention. I do know that potassium and B Complex help with stress and nerves…take those after consulting your doctor.
Sharon asks…
Can a Chicken Pox Vaccination cause Shingles later in life?
When I was nine (I am 16 now), I recieved the Chicken Pox vaccination. First of all, do I need to be re-immunized every so often? Also, if my body stops recognising the Chicken Pox antigen, am I at risk for CP or even Shingles later in life?
admin answers:
No, not at all – the immunization is designed to initiate the antigen-antibody complex (i.e. Make the body react to a controlled exposure to the disease) this is referred to as a primary response. Once it has been recognized by the body it does not get forgotten and there are always antibodies waiting around to encounter it again.
If the antigen triggers the response again then it initiates a
secondary response, so that any effect of the infection is diminished. Put simply – as the body has learned how to go about dealing with this infection, then it does and very successfully as a general rule.
If you’ve never had chicken pox then the immunization should reduce any full-blown effect should you encounter it (as the body has learned how to deal with this).
No need for booster jabs or anything (it’s not like a tetanus shot) once it’s been learned by the body, that’s it.
Cheers and wishing you a CP & shingle free existence,
Gray
Jenny asks…
Can Shingles cause genital herpes or cold sores?
My boyfriend has shingles. As i know that this disease is part of the herpes family… Can the disease lead to or cause genital herpes or cold sores in the person with shingles? Is there any way that i could be infected with herpes by being intimate with a person who has/ has had shingles?
admin answers:
No, you cannot get herpes by being intimate with someone who has shingles. As others have said, the only thing that might happen is that you could get chicken pox if you have never had it, or never been vaccinated for it.
Lizzie asks…
What kind of symptoms other than pain and rash does shingles cause ?
Does it make you sick in the stomach, dizzy, headaches, sleepy etc …
admin answers:
The signs and symptoms of shingles may include:
Pain, burning, tingling, numbness or extreme sensitivity in a certain part of your body
A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
Itching
Fever and chills
Headache
Upset stomach or abdominal pain
Typically, the shingles rash occurs on only one side of your body. This is an important sign to help diagnose shingles. It may appear, for example, as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of your back around one side of your chest to your breastbone, following the path of the nerve where the virus had been inactive. Sometimes, the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense, with just the slightest touch causing severe pain. Sometimes the pain can be mistaken for other problems or diseases, such as kidney stones, gallstones or appendicitis, depending on its location. Some people experience the pain without the rash, which makes diagnosing shingles more difficult.
Although the shingles rash may resemble chickenpox, the virus typically causes more pain and less itching the second time around.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/DS00098/DSECTION=symptoms
?There is a shingles vaccine, you can take it even if you’ve had shingles before.
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