Aa
shingles
My mother in law just called me crying bc she just got home from the hospital after finding out she has shingles. We are very close and she was concerned about me bc it is contagious. Should I be worried? Do I need to call my doc now? It's 8:25 pm. Or is it something hat can wait till morning. I just don't know if I should be freaking out or not.
Here is from the CDC:
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Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters, *not* through sneezing, coughing or casual contact.
A person with shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.
If you have shingles
Keep the rash covered.
Do not touch or scratch the rash.
Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of varicella zoster virus.
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______________________
Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters, *not* through sneezing, coughing or casual contact.
A person with shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.
If you have shingles
Keep the rash covered.
Do not touch or scratch the rash.
Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of varicella zoster virus.
_______________
If you didn't touch with an open lesion on her skin, you should not get shingles from someone who has it. Also, if you have had a vaccination for chicken pox, I think (please check with your doc to be sure!) it also protects against shingles.
You were already exposed to it and yes there is a higher chance of you getting it. You can wait to call your doctor in the morning. There probably isn't anything they can do but call anyways. We all have the virus in us if you had the chicken pox as a kid.
Also I'm not sure if it matters but I'm 32 weeks. And my immune system is down due to a cold.
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