2006-12-27 23:15:42 · 7 answers · asked by kimberly m 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Skin Conditions
Shingles itself is not contagious but CAn cause chicken pox in one who has not yet had them. The virus is not spread by casual contact or sneezing and only during the blister phase. Read #7 in this link for more...
2006-12-27 23:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by Betsy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-05-09 01:43:01 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chickenpox is caused by a DNA virus from the Herpes family called the Varicella Zoster Virus. Like family members who overstay their welcome, VZV stays in the sensory nerve ganglia long after the Chickenpox rash has cleared.
Following a stressed state or if your immune system is weak, the virus that is hiding in the nerve endings reactivates and moves to the peripheral nerves. Burning painful skin lesions develop in the area supplied by the nerves that allow you sensation.
Shingles tends to be less contagious than the original chickenpox. One has to be careful though that if you have never had chickenpox, there is a likelihood that you will get it from contact with someone with shingles.
If you are immune to Chickenpox because you have had it before, or because you were vaccinated, you will probably not be sick with it again unless you have lowered resistance to disease due to a medication or due to illness. People with shingles are normally asked to keep the lesions dry and covered to prevent spreading chickenpox.
There are vaccines for both Chickenpox and Shingles. Last May the FDA approved a vaccine to help boost the immunity of adults 60 years and older against the virus.
2006-12-28 01:49:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can I give shingles to others?
No one can catch shingles from you, but they can catch chickenpox if they haven't already had chickenpox or had the chickenpox vaccine. The chickenpox virus lives in the blisters from shingles, and the virus can be spread until the blisters are completely healed. If you have shingles, you should stay away from babies younger than 12 months and pregnant women.
2006-12-27 23:20:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is an auto-immune disease caused by leftover chichenpox virus.
It can be itchy and painful. A doctor will treat it with drugs(can't remember which ones).
2006-12-27 23:21:30 · answer #5 · answered by Ammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you cannot get them but you could get chicken pox from the person if you have not had them
2006-12-27 23:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by cmhurley64 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no and it is not hereditary .
2006-12-27 23:27:28 · answer #7 · answered by bill g 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋