Shingles

[Flame]

I have just had a phone call to say that my uncle came out in a rash this morning and they think it might be shingles. The problem is i was round there on Friday for about and hour and a half and also for about 10/15 mins this morning.

Do i need to speak to my midwife or anybody about it? as i know that chicken pox is bad when you are pregnant and shingles is another version of it.

 

[missac]

I would give your mw a phone just to be on the safe side. When I was teaching one of the kids came down with it and my head phoned the doctor for advice and they said I would be fine, although each doctor/mw differs. Just don't go round there until he has cleared up xxx

 

[Hellokitty]

I would phone someone and check too, just to put your mind at rest.

 

[Rachx]

Shingles has the same incubation period as chicken pox and is a rare form, its 2 weeks so if you were around him a week to 10 days ago that would be more dodgey than fri, also have you had rubella jab? If so i shouldn't worry and as for little one its only before 20 weeks that chicken pox can affect hope this puts mind at rest but i say any worries get on the phone to MW thats what they're paid for

 

[claire81]

I had shingles when i was just 11 weeks pregnant with my daughter Jamie, it isn't the same as chicken pox, its not harmful to the baby. Hope this puts your mind at rest x

 

[Flame]

I had a rubella jab when i was at school and i have had chicken pox so according to everything that i have read i should be ok also its only catching by touching the rash wereas i orginally thought it was caught throught the air like chicken pox.

Thanks for your replies ladies

 

[trixipaws]

ur right u cant catch it if youve had chicken pox, youll be fine xx

 

[*saulino*]

Hi

Glad that is sounds like you will be fine
Katrina

 

[Hellokitty]

ur right u cant catch it if youve had chicken pox, youll be fine xx

No thats not correct, you can't have shingles unless you have had chicken pox in the past.

 

[Hellokitty]

This should clarify things...

7. Can shingles be spread to others?

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).

Basically, Shingles is a recurrence of an old chicken pox infection which lies dormant within the body of anyone who has had chicken-pox in the past.

I think they often don't know what cause shingles, but poor immunity, stress and old-age are considered factors.

However, because chicken-pox and shingles are caused by the same virus, a person who hasn't had chicken-pox could catch it from a person with shingles.

That person would suffer from chicken-pox not shingles.

So yes, if you've had chicken-pox as a child you should be fine!