2006-11-06 02:57:14 · 8 answers · asked by scott h 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
This is the truth. If you had chicken pox....after the rash heals, the varicella virus lays dormant in your body. It will be there the rest of your life. IF you get shingles, it is from the dormant virus--you didn't "catch" it from anyone. And you are ONLY contagious to a person who has NEVER had chicken pox, which means you could give them chicken pox.....NOT shingles. So, yes...it's true... You cannot get SHINGLES if you never had chicken pox.....but you can still get chicken pox at anytime in your life if you come in contact with it or shingles.
OK?
2006-11-06 03:14:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's B S!! There are new strains of the chicken pox virus now and yes you can get it! If you have never had chicken pox then it is more likely you could get it because your body has not built up an immunity to the virus. It is actually less likely you will get shingles if you HAVE had chicken pox. Also some of the strains that have developed recently are totally immune to all the current treatments. My sister works in a nursing home as a on call doctor. She was telling me that they have had great outbreaks recently and they are finding it difficult to control. My wife has it right now and she has never had chicken pox.
2006-11-06 11:54:47 · answer #2 · answered by tjinjapan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who has had chicken pox is at risk of developing shingles. Shingles comes from the dormant chicken pox virus that is left in the body after having chicken pox. No chicken pox = no shingles. A person with shingles is contagious and can cause chicken pox in a person who hasn't had it, mostly kids.
2006-11-06 11:10:29 · answer #3 · answered by cannoninthehouse 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have never had chicken pox you most definately can get shingles if you come in contact with someone who has an active case of shingles. In our nursing home if you have never had chickenpox and never been vaccinated for it we recommend you let someone else care for patients with Shingles or be sure to wear a gown and gloves and wash well once you are done with that resident.
2006-11-06 11:01:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you've been exposed to the chicken pox virus, even if you don't have an outbreak of chicken pox, the virus can lie dormant in your system for years and then become active causing an outbreak of shingles. If you want more information on it, go to http://www.webmd.com.
2006-11-06 11:01:39 · answer #5 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its true the reason you have shingles is the chicken pox virus kicking up again .
2006-11-06 11:04:25 · answer #6 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with mLgable.
2006-11-06 11:05:03 · answer #7 · answered by jdc591 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not certain, but that just doesn't sound right.
2006-11-06 11:01:06 · answer #8 · answered by dragonlady 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋