First off, what is shingles? It is typically called Herpes Zoster, a virus that develops in folk who have had chickenpox in the past. It can come about when you have been subjected to prolonged emotional distress, an immune system disorder like HIV / aids, or taking chemotherapy treatments. Anti-rejection drugs can also cause a shingles outbreak, because these medicines must suppress the immunity mechanism to avoid rejecting a transplanted organ. Singles may start out as a low grade fever or flu-like symptoms. The fever can then be followed by pain or itchy areas on the skin, then a red rash appears inside five days. The rash turns into painful blisters that begin to leak clear fluid that crusts over then heals.
The question is: are shingles contagious? Shingles is not contagious but the virus that's causing it, is. The zoster virus spreads by coming in communication with a person with an active zoster infection. You will not get shingles but you will get chickenpox. This answers why a niece of mine got chicken pox instead of shingles. She went near a boy who was suffering a serious case of herpes zoster. The following days, she had chicken pox. Varicella and herpes zoster are a result of this same virus, varicella zoster. Anyone that has a previous history of chicken pox before can get shingles, but it is typically seen in folk who are 60 years old or older. A main reason that the virus kicks back up again is because of emotional stress, which when prolonged will have a repercussion on the immune system, therefore reactivating a pathogen that has been dormant in the body for a long time resulting with a shingles infection. So if in case you've had chicken pox back when you were still young, then the possibilities of getting shingles when you are older is definite.
Who are most at risk? A lady who is pregnant should avoid at any cost getting shingles. If she doesn't have any history of chicken pox, then the virus being shed can be passed unto her and her developing child. Should the expecting mother be exposed to a shingle virus, then she could develop chicken pox herself and her baby may be born already having chickenpox. This is such a scary thought among mothers. To protect yourself from shingles, one must keep away from people who have shingles.
Is Shingles Contagious? Find out more about the symptoms of shingles and look at the best shingles treamtent at: Is Shingles Contagious
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