Kids Exposure to Shingles

A long time ago my brother had shingles. He would shower at my parents house using separate towels that were washed afterwards. Also he would have his kids on the weekends. None of us ever caught it. As long as precautions are taken, the kids should be fine.

My brother had it a couple years ago. Nobody else in the house got it, so no direct contact I'm guessing.

Here's what I found:
Are shingles contagious? Yes and no. What is meant by that? You must read on to fully understand.

Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, Herpes zoster. After an individual has chicken pox, this virus lives near the nerves and is never fully cleared from the body. Certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (such as from AIDs or chemotherapy), anyone taking immunosuppressive drugs, or with cancer, can reactivate the virus causing shingles. In most cases however, the cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found.

Shingles are contagious in certain circumstances. Shingles can be spread from the infected person to children or adults who have never had chickenpox. But, instead of developing shingles, the people who have not had chickenpox will develop chickenpox. Once these people have had chickenpox, they too have the potential to contract shingles later on in their lifetime.

Shingles are contagious when there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing. Once all the blisters have crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.

Once a person has had chickenpox, they are no longer susceptible to another person who has shingles, in other words, they cannot catch the virus from someone else who is broken out with shingles blisters, whether they are crusted over or not.

Herpes Zoster affects some one million people a year, and usually appears after the age of 50, but can break out in adults of all ages. The virus remains dormant in nerve root cells, but may become active at anytime. Any person who has had chickenpox in childhood is at risk for shingles.

Some of the symptoms of shingles are blisters, painful rashes, and a feeling of burning pain. Skin can become very sensitive and painful to the touch. Topical products containing Emu Oil help ease the pain and itching as well as aiding in drying up the blisters.

You may want to search for shingles under the mamapedia logo. There have been a lot of questions lately.

As long as they don't come in direct contact with open sores, they should be fine. The virus is spread by direct contact. It usually affects the abdomen, but the sores can really emerge anywhere. As long as your father covers the open sores with clothing or bandages, your kids should be fine.

Your kids won't get shingles, they'll get Chicken pox, and if they've been vaccinated, the probability is low.

Here's what MayoClinic.com recommends:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/DS00098

Shingles is the same virus you get from chicken pox, so if they have had those, i wouldnt worry about it. just make sure good hand washing and as long as the shingles are not oozing fluid, they should be fine.

I had shingles last year (too hot outside, low immunity! Who knows!) I was on heavy antibiotics and cream and I was told by the physician, that as long as my spots (all 2 of them!) were not exposed, I was not contagious, but to try not to be around any pregnant women. I run a daycare and informed all families (no one stopped bringing their kids....my spots were on my torso and I always wore two shirts and practiced strict handwashing!) and not one child got sick...not even my own. It is very painful, but my understanding is that it isn't contagious if spots are not in the open. Hope that helps you! Best of luck and hope your dad feels better soon (this can last over a month!)

It is unlikely that your 7 mo old has been vaccinated for chicken pox, yet. This vaccine is given at 1 year typically. Therefore, this child would be at risk for catching chicken pox, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable for the child and the parent losing work time. But natural infection has the advantage of building better immunity so that later in life reemergence of the latent virus as shingles is delayed or prevented (prevented is preferrable, I have heard horror stories of the pain Shingles causes and the duration). And while your child has chicken pox, the exposure to you will give you an unnoticed boost to your immunity (provided you have a normal immune system with previous chicken pox exposure) to delay or prevent shingles in the future in you. The problem with the chicken pox vaccine is that an increase is shingles at earlier ages is occurring in the adult popluation, because we adults are no longer being boosted by exposure to our chicken pox infected kiddos. The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the costs to give it only when you factor in the parents lost work time in the equation (but it is hard to put a price tag on itchiness). But it needs to be given through adulthood because it does not boost as much immunity as natural infection and the vaccine actually infects you with the virus (albeit in a weakened form) that stays with you for life. I don't think this lifetime re-vaccination cost and risk for increase in Shingles was fully comprehended then or even now.

Hi S.,
When my daughter was 12 months old, my husband was diagnosed with shingles. His doctor said that within a few weeks she would come down with chicken pox and, sure enough, that's what happened. Since my daughter has never had to have the chicken pox vaccine, I don't know at what age - or if your children have gotten the vaccine. I have also heard that it is not one of the more reliable vaccines. In other words, I'm sorry to say, I would be wary of leaving them with your parents unless you don't mind them getting chicken pox. My daughter came through it fine but does have some scars. Good luck!

Yes... What "B" said.

That would be a really great question to ask your doctors. As well intentioned we are on this site, we aren't medical doctors, so we can't always answer these kinds of questiopns fully, because we don't have medical training. I would hate for anything to happen to you or you kids because of misinformation found on this site. I bet your doctor would happily answer your question for you!

Have fun on your trip!

We had this same senario not too long ago, pediatrician advice was no contact with open sores.

My 3 yr old and I currently live with my parents. My mom was diagnosed with shingles in November of 2009. My ped said that as long as my daughter didn't touch the area when it was "open" she would be fine. It was on my mom's back and torso, so it was always covered. My daughter has been fine. I would worry about it.

hi there well its really not a big deal. if your kids are up to date on shots like chicken pocks. also if he has had it a while hes prob already on med for it. just dont let the kids touch the spot where its at. with little ones its a little harder but just do your best. after being on med its not normaly tranferd to others. my friend just had it and after being on the med for 2days was around my 2year old and she is just fine so i would not worry to much bout it.

S.,

My oldest daughter gets them. As long as the children do not come into contact with the blisters, they should be fine. Keep the rash covered and the person with the shingles should wash their hands frequently.

Once the rash has crusted, they are not contagious anymore.

Your father may not feel up to being with the children though, they are extreemly painful, but as long as he feels well and keeps the rash under clothing or bandages, the children will be fine.

M.

One: search Shingles under the mamapedia logo, this has been a big topic lately so a lot of info on here.

Two: B really has hit all the medical points.

Three: It is possible for someone who has not had the singles to get chicken pox, but you do not get shingles from each other (it is a dormant part of the chicken pox that never leaves ones system). I had shingles earlier this year, both my hubby (31) and daughter (3) have never had chicken pox AND they never got them from me having shingles earlier in the year. My shingles were on my stomach so easy to keep covered. When I changed the bandages or changed my clothes I always washed my hands since I might have come in contact with some of the fluids. Hubby and I still shared the same bed and hubby never got the chicken pox. The biggest thing is the pain, it is horrible, worse then child birth because the pain never ends for weeks, it can come and go and can last months and in some cases years. So father may not be up for it, but if mom is going to take care of all of them anyway no biggy.

Here are the important questions:
***Where are the shingles on father? (if they are under the clothes and easy to bandage it should not be an issue, if they are open sores on his hands, face and other hard places to bandage it is a higher risk)
***Are they clean people? (if they are clean freaks it will not be an issue, or if they treat it as a high risk and clean everything he touches it will not be an issue, if they do not take any extra caution the great the chance of it being a risk).
*** How long has your father had shingles? (it usually takes about two weeks to figure out what it is and for the shingles to scab over if treated properly).
*** When is your trip? (if it is tomorrow it really depends on your father's condition & how long he has had shingles, if it is two weeks from now morethenlikely it will be 100% fine and no worries)

Feel free to private message me with any specific questions.

I have 4 kids and had a bout of shinlges a couple years ago. My physician said they were fine as long as they had all had chicken pox or the shot which they had.

as long as the shingles aren't weeping, there is nothing to worry about. If they are dry and crusted they are no longer contagious. If they were weeping there is a slight chance the kids could get the chicken pox from it, if they've never had it before, but the chances are fairly low. Check out CDC.gov for the low down on shingles.