I had chicken pox when I was young so I am unable to get them again, but I know the virus stays with you and can later turn into shingles in some people. What I need to know is if exposure to chicken pox can cause an outbreak of shingles. I have a compromised immune system due to a neurological disease so my chances of getting shingles are increased. I have found information saying that exposure to shingles can cause chicken pox, but I can not find anything saying if it works the other way as well. Any serious info is greatly appreciated!
2007-02-04 14:38:00 · 24 answers · asked by Daydreamer 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Yes, chicken pox and shingles are related. They are from the same disease!
2007-02-04 14:45:39 · update #1
I had shingles over thanksgiving and I also have a low immune system and chicken pox serverly as a child. The virus hides in your spine until stress and a low immune system cannot fight it off when it inflames. It inflames a nerve, reaches the top of the skin and causes a rash. I suffer from postneualgia or something like that-pain after shingles. I am only 20 also. Shingles is only contagious to people who have not had chicken pox and it is transmitted by air NOT TOUCH...it is only air borne when the blisters have opened. Dont let anyone tell you diffrent. I am a med student and have been to three doctors. Chicken pox cannot give you shingles...just later on if you have low immune system and high stress. I know someone is going to say-what 20 yr old has stress that bad. Me- my father passed away after 3 mth battle of cancer at age 49. I was his caretaker in my fist semester in college...dealing with his death and losing my best friend is hard...so yes, I have stress...good luck with it. There is NO prevention. I do know that potassium and B Complex help with stress and nerves...take those after consulting your doctor.
2007-02-06 09:26:24 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-01 22:50:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-03 00:20:13 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah I just got back from the doctor a few hours ago and I found out I have shingles now. But he said that I got them because I had chicken pox when I was little, and when you get chicken pox, the virus stays dormant in your body. It can come back out and "re-attack" later as shingles when your immune system gets weak, which he said in my case can be from a lack of sleep. I'm not hurting yet... but I've heard people say it hurts pretty bad... but I started taking Valtrex tonight so the doctor said it'll hopefully go away before it gets bad.
I am kinda surprised I have shingles and Im only 14 though.. Is that normal?
2007-02-05 15:07:43 · answer #4 · answered by Wesley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-06 11:15:29 · answer #5 · answered by janeth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chicken pox and shingles are both caused by the same virus, and yes you can get shingles if exposed to someone with the chicken pox. Since this virus is airborn, you can be exposed any time you go out into a public place or have contact with other people.
2007-02-04 17:50:37 · answer #6 · answered by Nana 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What Causes Shingles To Activate
2016-10-02 02:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is a possibility that your exposure to chicken pox could lead to a case of shingles. The diseases are caused by the same virus, they just act differently in the body. The doctor said there was a possibility of getting shingles due to the exposure. My sister has shingles and works in a hospital, she now needs to be more careful due to her immune system.
Also, never use a heat/stimulation device. Like some of the ones used at the chiropractor, these 2 stimulants together can cause an outbreak of shingles.
Good luck, I hope that you stay healthy due to your compromised im-system.
2007-02-04 14:55:20 · answer #8 · answered by oman396 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes Chicken Pox(varicella-zoster virus). You are right that once you have Chicken Pox you always carry that virus in you. A person that has chicken Pox virus in them can get Shingles if their immune system is compromised.
Usually this only happens to elderly people. Shingles is also contagious to people who have never had Chicken Pox if the people come into contact with the open vesicles of the persons with Shingles with skin to skin contact. When the 2nd person gets infected with the Chicken Pox virus, they may develop either Shingles or Chicken Pox.
2007-02-04 15:07:29 · answer #9 · answered by Smartassawhip 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I thought that chicken pox and shingles are one in the same. Shingles, to my understanding, are a more severe form of chicken pox and is usually seen in older people who have never contracted chicken pox as a youth. If your immune system is not fully functioning, it is possible to contract a variety of diseases and illnesses that a healthy person would never think twice about. Just protect yourself, and if you dont feel comfortable in a certain situation, just leave. Prevention is the best medicine, and once you catch something, you can't go back.
2007-02-04 15:00:36 · answer #10 · answered by sun_sweet 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋