spreading shingles to other parts of my body?

[A_Munk3y]

can i spread shingles to other parts of my body by touch?
like if i touch it (its on my thigh and lower back)  and then touch my face, will i get shingles there?

also, when i sleep and it rubs on my cover and i move around will the part of the cover that it touched cause a spreading if it touches somewhere else?

thanks for the help

[Piper2a]

I was just diagnosed with shingles for the 2nd time. The 1st time I only had 1 bump but had horrible pain for a few months. This time I have multiple bumps but nowhere near the pain as last time, at least so far. The itching is almost unbearable though. Hoping the Valtrex helps clear this up soon.

[maple_syrup]

should i be worried that it has spread to my genital area?

[maple_syrup]

should i be worried that it has spread to my genital area?

[Jennydh]

I had a week of severe aching and sometimes sharp stabbing pains in the lower rib area on the left side.
After a week of this I went to my doctor, who said it could be viral or the onset of shingles, and to come back immediately if a rash appeared.
A couple of days later, a few spots did appear and I returned to the Doctor. I was given Aciclovir and told it was shingles.
Since then, I have gathered more spots all around the area where the pain was, but contrary to what I was lead to expect (much more pain) the pain has eased considerably and the spots have become less painful without filling with pus? A few have started to scab.
Is this a mild case of shingles ?

[Jennydh]

I had a week of severe aching and sometimes sharp stabbing pains in the lower rib area on the left side.
After a week of this I went to my doctor, who said it could be viral or the onset of shingles, and to come back immediately if a rash appeared.
A couple of days later, a few spots did appear and I returned to the Doctor. I was given Aciclovir and told it was shingles.
Since then, I have gathered more spots all around the area where the pain was, but contrary to what I was lead to expect (much more pain) the pain has eased considerably and the spots have become less painful without filling with pus? A few have started to scab.
Is this a mild case of shingles ?

[A_Munk3y]

Thanks for the info :)
Appreciate it.

I will post when something happens, though it seems like now that the blisters are about to pop. Hopefully this is a sign that its getting better.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chicken pox. The most common location for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning one side of the trunk around the waistline. This does not usually affect other areas except for that specific dermatome which is supplied by the nerve fibbers where the virus has remained dormant.  This is also true with your bed covers spreading the virus to other parts of your body.

The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs, which include acyclovir, valcyclovir, or famcyclovir. Antiviral drugs may also prevent the reduce or prevent painful after-effects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia.

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted.

[Jetterjet9]

So the answer is yes you can spread shingles to other parts of your body by touching the rash then like touching my face my face will get the shingles yes or no?