First of all, what is shingles? It is generally called Herpes Zoster, a virus that develops in folks who have had chickenpox in the past. It can come about when you have been put through prolonged emotional distress, an immune system disorder like HIV / aids, or taking chemo treatments. Anti-rejection drugs can also cause a shingles outbreak, because these medications must suppress the immunity mechanism to avoid rejecting a transplanted organ. Singles may start out as a low grade fever or flu-like symptoms. The fever can then be followed by discomfort or itchy areas on the skin, then a red rash appears within five days. The rash turns into painful blisters that start to leak clear fluid that crusts over then heals.
The issue is: Is shingles contagious? Shingles is not contagious but the pathogen that’s causing it, is. The zoster virus spreads by coming in communication with a person with an active zoster infection. You won’t get shingles but you may get chickenpox. This explains why a niece of mine got chicken pox instead of shingles. She went near a boy who was suffering a bad case of herpes zoster. The following days, she had chicken pox. Varicella and herpes zoster spring from this same virus, varicella zoster. Anyone who has a previous history of chicken pox before can get shingles, but it is generally seen in folk who are sixty years old or older. A main reason that the virus kicks back up again is because of emotional stress, which when prolonged will have an effect on the immunological response, therefore reactivating a pathogen which has been torpid in the body for a long time ensuing with a shingles infection. So if in case you’ve had chicken pox back when you were still young, then the possibilities of getting shingles when you are older is definite.
Who are most at risk? A girl who is pregnant must avoid at all costs getting shingles. If she doesn’t have any history of chicken pox, then the pathogen being shed can be passed unto her and her unborn child. Should the expecting mummy be exposed to a shingle virus, then she could develop chicken pox herself and her baby may be born already having chickenpox. This is such a fearsome thought among mothers. To safeguard yourself from shingles, one must stay away from those that have shingles.
Are Shingles Contagious? Find out more about contagious shingles and look at the best treatment for shingles at: Are Shingles Contagious
