Laura asks…
Shingles, and 33 weeks pregnant?
I am 33 weeks pregnant, my cousin has been diagnosed with shingles. The doctors said she had them Thursday June 3 and on Friday June 4, we gave each other a hug.. Should I be worried? Also how contagious are shingles? Are they dangerous for my baby if I do catch them?
admin answers:
The shingles virus is the same as the Chicken Pox virus. At your age I would suspect two things, either you’ve already HAD the chicken pox, or received the vaccine. Either way, your Ob/Gyn should have covered this with you. If you’ve HAD the Pox, then you would likely NOT get infected. If you’re unsure of both, then your provider can do a “Vericella Titer” through blood work. This will give you your immune status. Unless you rubbed up directly against your cousin’s open shingles outbreak, this would be VERY difficult to get. Getting the chicken pox while pregnant CAN be fatal, but it’s rather rare. Check with your provider about this. I really don’t think you need to be worried.
William asks…
Question about shingles?
I have had shingles in the past but now its different because I have a 7 month old baby and it worries me. My question is..Is shingles only contagious by coming in contact with the fluid,or can it be airborne too? If I have a outbreak can I just keep it covered well and all should be okay for my baby so he dont get chickenpox?
admin answers:
The chicken pox virus spreads through contact with nearly any type of bodily fluid, but with shingles, the virus tends to be restricted to the area where the blisters occur. Keeping the blisters covered greatly reduces the risk of spreading the virus, but sneezing and coughing carry a small risk of passing on the infection. If you are sneezing or coughing, catch it with a kleenex and then wash you hands thoroughly.
You could call your pediatrician to see if it is advisable to administer the chicken pox vaccine at this time – its a little early to kick in in time to completely prevent an infection, but it would boost the immunity to some degree.
Mark asks…
Shingles during pregnancy?
I’m 35 weeks pregnant and just found out I have shingles. They put me on Valtrex for a week. Will the shingles cause any harm to the baby? Are they contagious? I have birthing classes this weekend and don’t know if I should stay home or not because of the shingles. any advice?
admin answers:
Stay on the med and take it exactly when told. Don’t put other mom’s at risk by going to the class, even if your rash has scabbed over. You wouldn’t appreciate it if you found one of them were in the infectious stage. There is some studies that suggest exposure to this real early in pregnancy can cause birth defects.
You are along at the right part of your pregnancy where your child may develop chickenpox (pediatric shingles) over the next five years, but it’s rare.
This is so textbook and with the times given and you wanting to be around other mothers when infected, I suspect this question isn’t for real. But I looked it up for you just in case when I saw no more answers.
-more-
If I sounded to harsh… No, your baby will be fine, even if he/she gets chickenpox from it (which is higly unlikely).
Sharon asks…
Does this look like shingles?
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w284/klockley/2009-12-17193214-1-1.jpg
I broke out with this yesterday… it itches like crazy!
I am under alot of stress… so I thought it could be shingles?
I had a c-section 7 days ago to have my first baby, and I haven’t been sleeping well in addition to all the stress a newborn brings! I can’t remember if the doctors put anything on me I might have been allergic to…?
I’m not taking any medication that would cause this.
It doesn’t quite look like pictures of shingles on the internet as they aren’t fluid-filled, but they do have white heads on them, like an ant bite.
If it isn’t shingles, what could it be, and is it contagious to the baby?
I have had chicken pox.
It is not so uncomfortable that I feel the need to go to a doctor before morning… I put some anti-itch cream on it, and it’s not that bad.
admin answers:
The photo looks like a photo of your belly and the rash in on the left and right side. If this is true it’s not shingles, as shingles doesn’t pass the midline, secondly shingles doesn’t itch, it hurts, most often described as a burn.
Possible causes are…
1) allergy to something for example, cosmetic, hygiene product, medication, food.
2) insect bite: flees, chiggers, scabies
3 plant contact: poison ivy, poison oak
4) bacterial infection
The history of new exposure to something would suggests 1
The history of pets, exposure to pine straw or another person with similar rash would suggests 2
The history of plant contact the day before or wearing clothes that someone else wore who worked with plants, would suggest 3
Tenderness or swollen glands would suggest 4
You can use benadryl over the counter or calamine lotion topically but if you plan on seeing the doctor tomorrow, I wouldn’t use a topical as it will interfere with the exam and any scraping study the doctor might do. One patient of mine told me that she got relief from an itching rash by rubbing the rash with the inner surface of a banana peal, no joke.
Good luck.
Sandy asks…
My baby is due soon and my Mother has shingles. Bit of help?
My wife and I are due our baby soon. He’s due beginning of July. My Mum however has shingles. Well, she has the start of shingles. She just has the pain in her back but she does not have a rash yet. She knows it is shingles because she has had it before. She has been to the doctor but has only been prescribed pain killers. I think there is a treatment you can give but this can only be given when the rash has appeared, which it hasn’t done yet.
So, if my baby comes and my Mum still has the start of shingles but without the rash is she OK seeing the child? The way I have read in to it is that somebody with shingles can pass chicken pox on to somebody who hasn’t had it. It is only contagious though when there is a rash. In that case, would she be ok to see the baby if she didn’t have a rash?
I’m very aware that this could be dangerous to my baby and I am on the side of “until it all clears up” camp. It is a difficult position to be in though because at the moment she is not contagious according to the research I have done and obviously she wants to see her new and only grandchild. She is also aware of the position she is now in. So with this in mind and without trying to sound too demanding, please give a little thought before answering and blindly informing me that she shouldn’t and that is that.
Thanks very much.
admin answers:
Has your wife ever had the chicken pox (not the chicken pox vaccine, but the actual chicken pox)? If she has, then there is no danger to your wife and unborn baby now. If not, she should probably keep her distance from your mother even now – chicken pox during pregnancy can be tough. If your wife has had chicken pox and plans to breastfeed, her natural immunity should pass on and protect the baby (but I would be careful nonetheless).
If your wife did not have the chicken pox, or does not plan to breastfeed, honestly I would keep Grandma away once the rash appears until it clears up. The timing is bad, too, as she will likely break out within a couple of weeks and it could be August before it clears up.
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