Possible Contact with a Disease!

[NicoleCherie]

I am almost 6 weeks. I  just found out a person I had visited has Shingles!

Nurses have told me if I get shingles my baby could be harmed. The internet has been telling me its chicken pox that can harm them and shingles can't.

I immediately scrubbed my hands, arms and face with disinfectant soap. I do know you can contact it by touching them and they are contagious when the boils break and ooze. When they scab over and fall off then they are not contagious.

Can anyone clear this up? Is this disease, if contracted, dangerous to my fetus?

[Lesley27]

Okay... Yes shingles is something to worry about unless you are OVER 20 weeks pregnant... even if the mother has had chicken pox or has been immunized... this is because the baby hasnt been infected before and with all the developing the babies is undergowing makes the baby especially at risk...

And yes you CAN NOT get shingles from shingles... you can get chicken pox from shingle if you havent had them or are not immune to them
Shingles are not just an adult thing, children can also get them... anyone who has had chicken pox before can get them as its the chicken pox virus that causes them, and they are usually brought on from some sort of stresser... for example one man i know got them the day before he was to go for surgery...

Okay so if the person you came in contact to had the shingles covered, or they were already scabbed over then you are most likely okay... but i would still talk to public health and discuss this with your Dr... you are most likely okay but there is still a chance so its best to monitor and confirm all is well...

As far as putting the person under quarantine... it would depend on the setting: in hospital absolutely! in a persons home... not likely as tons of ppl get shingles and some battle flare ups their whole lives... i do hope that these ppl are educated and do respectfully take the correct precautions

i know depending on the facility the protocol can be different... i work in 2 different health regions and the one made a man stay in his room for 2 weeks and he wasnt even allowed his window open as he was on droplet and airborn precautions and then in the other facility, they didnt care at all! the woman was allowed out of her room and the staff was in and out of her room without any gowning or gloving... i was pretty mad at this but was told it wasnt a big deal... and didnt get backed up from management or infection control!... and yes most cases its not a big deal but some pregnant woman dont even know they are pregnant and could be expossed... this was why is was mad as the client wasnt even educated on this...

[ellz999]

If you've had chicken poxs and are immune you have nothing to worry about. You catch chicken pox from shingles but u cannot catch shingles. Shingles is the chicken pox virus and it lays dormant in you system. Some people have flair ups now and again but as someone said it only affects one side of ur body it affects the nervous system! Hope this helps!

[whatstheodds]

I had them one time my kids or no one else around me caught. I'm not saying it isn't contagious tho. U should talk 2 ur Dr just 2 b safe.

[MissJLJ]

My sister gets shingles every once in awhile, and ive never seen her teenage daughter with them, and ive never got them by being around her or sharing things with her. But you never know, better to be safe. See your doctor.

[mommyd2012]

Yes it is harmful to you and the baby....shingles are the adult form of chicken poxs....what it does in stead of being all over your body like chicken pox when you were young it targets a nerve strand and attacks it and you break out....when you are pregnant you are more likely to contract it. The baby will also be able to contract it....it could cause damage to the nerves the baby is forming....you should contact your doctor immediately and tell them when and where you came in contact with the person.....also they should of had the person under quarantine! Best of luck dear!