A friend has shingles and sometimes feels well and at other times not so good.She has gone back to work and is mingling with friends as usual, but still on medication and some still break out.
2006-08-21 22:08:07 · 20 answers · asked by Petbrialijac 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
You would probably recognize shingles by it's commonly known other name, Chicken pox.
Chicken pox is a virus in the herpes family (herpes zoster) and is of course, highly contagious. Typically an outbreak lasts about 3 to 5 weeks. Once you get it, you typically have the virus in your system for life but your immune system keeps it supressed.
However, over time, if you do not come into contact with someone with chicken pox, your resistance to the virus lessens and the virus in your system may reactivate causing shingles. Additionally, people under stress or with compromised immune systems can also have the virus reactivate.
Wikipedia has an excellent webpage about shingles aka chicken pox aka herpes zoster.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles
EDIT: To clarify a point of confusion, shingles is not contagious in the way that it will cause other people to get the shingles.
It is highly contagious in the way that if a person has not been vaccinated or has never had the chicken pox, that person will contract the virus and come down with the chicken pox.
The blisters cease being contagious when they are dried out.
2006-08-21 22:22:37 · answer #1 · answered by slynx000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is Shingles Contagious
2016-09-27 18:54:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-09 00:34:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Is shingles contagious? If so, when and for how long.?
A friend has shingles and sometimes feels well and at other times not so good.She has gone back to work and is mingling with friends as usual, but still on medication and some still break out.
2015-08-06 15:27:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-01 07:01:05 · answer #5 · answered by Lucille 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even once you completely recover from chicken pox, the virus remains in your system for the rest of your life and can resurface as shingles. The virus generally resurfaces due to a weakened immune system. I know this from experience. I was working 8 shifts a week (including overnight shifts) and getting very little sleep. I worked like this for about nine months and my body paid the price. The resulting Shingles was my body's way of telling me to slow down and get some rest. I got the message. I think I got over it in several days but I have been left with some scarring on the left side of my neck. Shingles are only contagious if you come into direct contact with the open sores. If you have never had chicken pox, you can get it if you come into contact with the open sores of Shingles.
2006-08-21 22:57:44 · answer #6 · answered by DJ117 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shingles is thought not to be contagious in the same way has chicken pox is, The symptoms can vary too, with some adults having a mild rash while others have extremely painful condition affecting the nerve ending just below the skin surface.
There is no cure and medication really is to do with keeping the pain under control and keeping any rash free from infection..
Shingles is also known to cause depression in adults due to the disabling effects of the skin rash which can be unsightly and painful
2006-08-21 22:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by robert x 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had Shingles for the first time a few weeks ago. I am normally in good health and haven't had any other health challenges before, so it came as a surprise.
Shingles is probably the most painful thing I have ever encountered. I went to the doctor, and he gave me some prescription drugs to take that was suposed to help, but didn't.
My wife found the Fast Shingles Cure ebook online and bought it for me, I am very lucky to have such a wonderful woman in my life. We followed the book, did what it said, and it delivered what it promised. Finally my Shingles rash is over... I feel truly blessed and thankful.
The #1 Shingles Treatment Method Available
2016-05-18 11:43:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-06 10:47:13 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I have had them in the same place in the middle of my back. They are very sore & it makes you snappy & bad tempered. It is the nerve endings that get infected & I have found that the came when I was under stress or maybe it was the shingles developing that caused the stress, They say its left in your system after having chicken pots. Getting back to your question non of my family or contacts have had them so that is a definite no they are not contagious. The doctor gave me a little bottle of medication that was applied with a brush & that shifted the rash but I still had a slight iritation for a year after it had cleared up. hope this helps.
2006-08-21 22:25:32 · answer #10 · answered by col 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋