Medical types....Question for you, please

[Doran]

I am now taking the anti-viral and prednisone in a proactive measure against possible shingles. I may never know if I really had/have them, or if my back was just tingly and sunburned feeling because it wanted to be contrary.

Nevertheless, since I'm assuming that was all something, and I'm medicating accordingly, how would I approach my contagion level? Am I safe to be around little people. Should I wear a big scarlet "S" on my chest?

Doran

[Kanga]

I believe with shingles you have to have skin to skin contact to pass it on (which is how I passed it on to my ds). But if you have over obligated yourself and need an excuse to stay at home for a while take it!

[Janet in WA]

Again, from the NIH -- shingles is contagious (for chicken pox) only if someone else comes into direct contact with the open lesions of a shingles sufferer. Once the lesions scab over, they're no longer contagious. If you never have the lesions, you can never give chicken pox to anyone else.

When my son had shingles (when he was 9), his pediatrician said he was fine to go to school as long as he kept his shirt on (the lesions were on his chest). It's really not very contagious.

[JenneinAZ]

Shingles is only spread by skin to skin contact and not always then. You should be okay.

I had shingles while pregnant with my second child. My oldest (then one and a half) spread the bug bite cream on my itches. I thought I was having a bad reaction to some spider bites. She hadn't had either the chicken pox or the vaccination for chicken pox. She still didn't get them.

She did get the vaccination at her next doctor visit.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Crissy]

When my husband had a shingles outbreak our doctor told him infecting the children wasn't a concern if they didn't come in direct contact with his sores.

(((Doran))) I hope you're feeling better!

[Doran]

But, I had received this email from an LPN friend of ours who works in our pediatric clinic which caused me to have concern:

If you really do have shingles there is evidence (even though some doc's aren't aware of it) that you are shedding some of the virus thru respiratory droplets (minimal amounts) as well as from the lesions. The lesion part is easy- keep them covered. There is nothing you can do about the respiratory aspect unless you hold your breath for the next week or so. The risk to everyone is small...

So, I wasn't sure how to approach the next few days -- not sure if, like with an antibiotic, the patient is no longer infectious after...what is it...48 hours? But, this isn't really the same animal. Since I have no lesions, I'm going to go ahead with life as planned (we NEED to get out this week after being home all last week), but I'll avoid breathing too heavily on any of the tiny little babes who come with mommies to our homeschool co-op.

Thanks for the well wishes, all. I am happy to report that I'm feeling markedly better tonight. Must be the steroids! :rolleyes:

Doran

[Janet in WA]

If you really do have shingles there is evidence (even though some doc's aren't aware of it) that you are shedding some of the virus thru respiratory droplets (minimal amounts) as well as from the lesions. The lesion part is easy- keep them covered. There is nothing you can do about the respiratory aspect unless you hold your breath for the next week or so. The risk to everyone is small...

I'd want to be as conservative as possible, but the NIH says that the virus is not found in the lungs of shingles patients -- only chicken pox patients. Better safe than sorry, though.

[Doran]

Surely by Friday (when our co-op meets), I'll be in the clear. I feel as good today as I've felt in over a week!

Thanks for the replies.

Doran