My daughter has shingles for the 2nd time in 3 yrs. The doctor wants her to have a blood test why?

Question

I have just found out my daughter who is six has shingles. She also suffered from this when she was three yrs and chicken pox when she was two yrs old. The doctor wants her to have a blood test in one week. What will he be testing for? I having been looking on the internet and it all links to HIV in children.

Answer 1

The diagnosis is visual; very few other diseases mimic herpes zoster, especially in the localization of the rash, which is otherwise quite similar in appearance and initial effect to that of poison oak or poison ivy (although it may not be accompanied by the intense itching so characteristic of those rashes).

In case of doubt, diagnostic tests can be performed. Such lab tests may be necessary because, depending on the affected sensory nerve, the pain that is experienced before the onset of the rash may be misdiagnosed as pleurisy, myocardial infarction, appendicitis, cholelithiasis, or a migraine headache. Fluid from a blister may be taken so the cells can be analyzed in a medical laboratory. While looking at the cells obtained from the blister, those infected with the herpes virus will appear very large and contain many dark nuclei. A physician can also take a viral culture of a fresh lesion, or perform a microscopic examination of the blister base called a Tzanck preparation. In a complete blood count there may be an elevated number of white blood cells, which is an indirect sign of infection. There may also be a rise in the antibody to the virus, which would also give indication of the virus’ reactivation

Answer 2

My brother had shingles and I know he was pretty upset when the doctor wanted to give him a blood test too. But the doctor did explain that it is actually rare for a person to have shingles so they run tests to rule out other conditions which can bring it on.

Also, just ask your doctor straight out if he's testing her for HIV because you have a right to know. Try not to be too offended though because it is good when they can rule things out and focus on finding the real problem.

Also, I found the following explanation on a website about shingles:

Why do the elderly and young children are more prone to Shingles?

Since shingles seems to be related to a weak immune system, it is more common in the elderly, although it may also affect the very young. The elderly may suffer from an impaired immune system more easily than younger adults. Very young children do not have a fully developed immune system. Shingles affects equally both men and women. It may occur in any season.

So, that explains why even a child with no other health problems could get shingles. So, don't worry about the blood test too much.

Go to this website for more:
http://www.salusil.com/vir_herzos.htm\

This website is sponsored by a medication but it's not just an advertisement, it has some good info, too.

I sincerely hope your daughter gets past this soon.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

He is not sure if it is shingles.
He will check the baseline HSV titers and see the IgM and IgG are elevated. I t goes up in IgM then it is a recent infection due to the virus. Then you have to ask why is a healthy young person getting recurrent viral infections is there some malfunctioning part of the immune system not only the T cells maybe an immunoglobulin deficitency? not necesarily HIV

Answer 6

Because it has the potential to be come very serious. Can cause lasting nerve pain to where the slightest touch can be painful. He's probably going to test her immune system and white blood count. Repeated cases of shingles is a sign of a weak immune system. Which is why you are probably finding HIV sites linked to it.

Answer 7

If you and your partner don't have HIV, I doubt she does. I wouldn't doubt that she may have a compromised immune system. She probably has a genetic predisposition to certain diseases (i.e. shingles) because of her different immune system. The doctor's tests will probably be very helpful, in that they'll tell which medicines to carry (if necessary), how to apply them, and when to apply them, again, only if necessary. They will probably test for leukocyte count in the hematocrit (white blood cells in the 'blood' part of blood via removal of the plasma). If that's normal, they'll test for leukocyte defects. If that's normal they'll probably run your daughter's DNA and look for genetic abnormalities. My heart goes out to you, and I'm sure everything will workout fine.

Answer 8

What her problem is link to is all the poisons you allowed to be pumped into her body called 'vaccinations'. The doctors are your worse enemy.
When is the world going to wake up and understand the medical profession make their money off sick people. They are the ones that make you sick. Vaccination is one of the most evilest thing one can do to a child. This has been know for over 150 years. Homeopathic medicine can heal your child. Just find a Homeop. Dr. that has been practicng for 25-35 years.

Answer 9

He will be testing for all types of autoimmune disorders and to see if stress plays a role in this. Most likely looking for lupus. Not HIV. But anything autoimmune, most definitely. Bless her heart....

Answer 10

The easiest thing to do is to call your doctor's office and ask what the tests are for. The receptionist or nurse can ask the doctor your question and call you back with a answer.