Are Shingles Contagious?

Who Else Wants To Learn The Facts and STOP The Pain Now?

“Are shingles contagious?“  The question never seems to be asked until after the sufferer is nearby. Why is it that we don’t know much about any medical condition until someone we know has it or just got over from having it? Shingles can be a very serious medical condition, but are shingles contagious? Maybe. This is a question that everyone wants to know.

“I have had the Shingles twice now, and if you know anyone with the Shingles, you have no idea the pain they could be going through, get them the eBook “Fast Shingles Cure”.  It helped me tremendously the second time around and stopped the pain almost immediately.  The first time I had them for three weeks and the second time, with the help of the eBook, I had them for only a few days.”

So, Are Shingles Contagious?

First off, Relax!  Take a deep breath as there are stipulations to that answer.  To help you further understand the answer, we must first review the criteria that must be met before one can “catch” shingles. Before we find out what those are, let’s learn a little more about what shingles are first. But first, we need to back up even a little further in this medical lesson.  It all started with the Chickenpox.

Chickenpox, no this is not a distraction, is a skin disease caused by a viral infection. This condition is not as common as it once was due to required (in the United States) vaccinations. Anyone can get chickenpox and it is more severe in the very young and in adults. The Varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox will eventually go into a dormant stage. This stage can last for a lifetime or the virus can be “woken” up.  So here’s the relationship between the Chickenpox and Shingles.

If the virus is “woken”, which can be due to a number of reasons such as stress, aging or even some medications, shingles occurs. Don’t worry, we are getting closer to the answer of the question “Are shingles contagious?” Once the virus has awoken, the individual will not suffer from chickenpox again but will suffer from shingles.

Finally, “Are shingles contagious?”

If you are around someone who has shingles and you have never had a case of the chickenpox, then yes you can contract shingles, but let me clarify. If you are just in the same room, then you have nothing to worry about; However, if you have never had chickenpox and come in contact with the blisters/rash of the individual who has shingles you could become infected. Once the scabs have healed over, then the possibility of contracting shingles diminishes. But you should avoid any contact at all if possible if you are pregnant, if you are ill, if your immune system is weak due to infection or are an infant or young child.

Can shingles be prevented?

In a perfect world you can prevent anything. However, that is not the life we live. You can talk with your doctor about Zostavax which is the shingles vaccine. You can also discuss getting the varicella vaccine if you have not had it before. Other than the vaccines available to stop the virus, there are no other preventative measures available at this time other than stay away from someone who has shingles and wash your hands.

If you do have shingles and need to be around others, please precautionary steps to prevent the virus from being spread to others. Keep the sores covered to not only protect the sores but absorb the fluid that can spread the virus. Wash your hands and don’t share towels or bedding with others until they have been laundered.

If you have had the chickenpox vaccine and you have had chickenpox at some point in your life, to prevent shingles try not to stress and do your best to stay active and eat a good diet. If you haven’t had the vaccine nor had chickenpox, talk with your doctor to see what preventative steps can be taken to lesion the likelihood of contracting shingles. The answer to the question “Are shingles contagious” is yes with some ifs and buts and maybe a possibility thrown in.

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