David asks…
I have Shingles (aka Herpes Zoster)….?
At first I thought it was a bug bite…I went to the doctor and, nope, it Shingles…wow. Can I still go to school without starting an epidemic?
admin answers:
Your doctor should have told you about this. As far as I know it is suppose to be contagious
Sandra asks…
info on shingles or herpes zoster, ?
how did i get them, how long will i have them, and can i spread them? i was diagnosed at the er and the doc didnt tell me crap!
admin answers:
You probably caught chicken pox as a child. Once you have chicken pox, your body gets the virus under control and your symptoms vanish, but the virus stays dormant in your body for the rest of your life.
When it reactivates, it is known as shingles. It is a lot less infectious than chicken pox, and you cannot spread it to anyone who has ever had chicken pox, but you CAN actually give someone who has never had chicken pox chicken pox from your shingles if they come into skin contact with your sores.
It is a common misconception that shingles is not infectious.
The following is advice from the CDC website on shingles:
….”Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, VZV, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles. The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. A person with shingles can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person is not infectious before blisters appear or with post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone).”
Jenny asks…
Shingles…?
Is shingles (herpes zoster) contagious? My friend has it and hasn’t been in school for a couple of days now, but I give her a ride home everyday. I was wondering if I give her a ride when she comes back, will I get it?
admin answers:
It is usually not contagious but they recommend that people who are pregnant stay away from people who have shingles. You will not get it from her.
Mark asks…
herpes zoster question?
i had herpes zoster, shingles when i was younger, now and then my eyes would flare up and the dr put me on elidol creme, now for my question this year i became very ill with my intestines causing severe side pain when i had a colonoscopy those pains went away and i developed what looked like hives on my hands but after mega doses of steroids they keep flaring could this be shingles back again and could they have been in my intestinal tract?
admin answers:
Shingles is a reactivation of varicella zoster virus (the chicken pox virus). You can get it many, many times over and especially if you are immuno-suppressed (on steroids). The steroids may actually be causing a zoster flare.
Zoster virus can appear anywhere on your skin (arms and hands included) but usually has a characteristic linear appearance. It would be unusual to have zoster virus inside your body, but not impossible – this condition is called “disseminated zoster” and typically only happens to people who have a very weak immune system from drugs or chemotherapy.
Al that being said, it could be zoster on your arm, it could be flaring up because by the steroids – but the only way to be sure is to see your doctor and have the test done.
Good luck!
Dr. P.
Daniel asks…
Can a mother with shingles care for a new born.?
I have herpes zoster(shingles) can I take care of my 6 week old child or is his health at great risk. Also I breastfeed, did it harm him in any way?
admin answers:
Shingles are not contagious through skin contact. I have had shingles before. They itch like a mother but there is nothing that will prevent a person from doing day to day activities. Put some vaseline on a bandage and stick on there to help with the itching. You can go to the doctor and get medicine to help treat it if you want or just let them go away on their own. Good luck to you.
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