Your Questions About Shingles

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Chicken pox in adults
Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called the Varicella zoster virus (VZV). After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body. Under certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (from AIDS or chemotherapy), or with cancer, the virus reactivates causing shingles. In most cases, however, a cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found. Anyone who has ever had chickenpox is at risk for the development of shingles, although it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60. It has been estimated that up to 500,000 cases of shingles occur each year in the U.S.

Yes, shingles is contagious. Shingles can be spread from an affected person to children or adults who have not had chickenpox. But instead of developing shingles, these people develop chickenpox. Once they have had chickenpox, people cannot catch shingles (or contract the virus) from someone else. Once infected, however, people have the potential to develop shingles later in life.

Shingles is contagious to people that have not previously had chickenpox, as long as there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.

admin answers:

Yes very, an old remedy that my grandma had me do was put hot tea bags on them the tea draws the itching out. Sounds crazy but it does work. And did your Dr. Tell you that you can get them over again? Talk to him and get the shingle shot after you are done with them. Shingles can also be very dangerous if they get on your face can cause blindness. Take care hope you fell better soon.

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The rash starts off as red spots, which quickly turn into blisters. They always affect only one side of the body (left or right) and never cross the midline. This is because they come out on the area of skin which is supplied by one particular nerve.

The rash may affect any part of the body, including head and limbs. It may thus appear as a band around one side of the chest or abdomen, or down an arm or leg. It may affect the head, and when it affects the upper cheek or the side of the forehead it may also affect the eye. You should certainly see your doctor if you have shingles affecting the side of the head, and especially if it seems to affect the tip of your nose or the eye itself.

It is usually a very painful rash, and typically people can’t bear clothes touching the affected area.

The blisters burst and crust over, usually within a week and the area slowly settles, sometimes leaving pale scars. The pain may settle as quickly as the rash, but unfortunately some people are left with pain affecting that area for many months or even years (Post herpetic neuralgia).

Most people are surprised by how ill they feel with shingles. This seems out of proportion with the extent of the skin involved. There is a general debility and exhaustion, sometimes with aches and pains and sometimes a mild fever. Depression is often a feature of shingles, as in many other viruses. You may need up to three weeks off work.

It is not contagious but someone who has NOT HAD CHICKENPOX can catch it from someone with SHINGLES. This can happen only while the blisters are visable and until they have all burst and are dry.
You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox and it comes from within your own body from the same virus that caused the chickenpox.

admin answers:

Yes it is contagious and it never really goes away (it is a form of herpes) however it is massively unlikely to spread when it is in recession and/or not showing symptoms.

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I am a nurse and you can not give shingles to anyone. People than have not been exposed to varicella or chicken pox could be at risk.check out www.web md .com