Shingles? - Horace,ND

I dont have advice as far as taking care of a child when you have it but when I was like 9 I had it and it was awful and it was not fun so just wanted to let you know my thoughts are with you. And if they still give that I think it was called silverdean (spelling?) dont wear anything you dont want ruined!!!

first off, get the child vacinated! From what I know it is also the same virus that causes herpes and cold sores. So what I think would work is keep the area clothed, avoid direct touching the child after itching. Use soap and water on hands before touching the child.

Here is a link to quick info on c pox (also mentions shingles). Please stay away from anyone who is or might be pregnant; another poster mentioned this; it is explained in the link:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/c...

Like Pamela said, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I had a nice conversation about chicken pox with my midwife and she said that sometimes if babies get exposed to it before they're a year old, they won't be immune to it later in life. No big deal.

I'll tell you the truth: if my son were over a year old and your daughter had the chicken pox, we would be begging to come over to your house and play. There are people who put out posters for Chicken Pox Parties at local co-ops when their children come down with it. It's so hard to find!

Anyway, that's just my two cents, from someone who really doesn't care to vaccinate and drug up my kids due to chicken pox.

Hi R.,
Sorry you have shingles. My youngest brother ended up with it at age 12...he smashed his side on counter. The doc figured the trauma to his body caused the shingles. My father in law had it in April. He had two itchy spots but none of us knew what it was. He was around the kids for a few days before he ended up going to the doctor for the pain and additional rash that was coming up. Both kids are up to date on their varicella vaccines but the doctor said they could still get chicken pox...it would just be to a lesser degree than when we had it as kids (i guess the vaccine isn't 100% but now they are giving a booster at a later age). I don't think there is really way around it other than to not be in contact. It was easier for us...just didn't go to Grandma and Papa's until he was scabbed over. Once the scabs are there and the sores aren't weeping you are no longer contagious...that's what we were told. Good luck to all of you. Try to get to bed early and eat well so your body can heal.

Only the fluid inside the blisters is contagious. If you have any open sores cover them. The risk of spreading it to your child is pretty low.

Yes, I had shingles a few months after my daughter was born on my head in my hairline. Thankfully, I caught it early enough so it didn't get out of control. You are contagious but it would take your sores oozing the liquid, you touching your sores and then touching someone else. So keep your hands away from the area and practice good handwashing. Your daughter will be fine. I was breastfeeding as well. The good news is...I was told by my physician that once you get shingles - you are not likely to get them again. =)

My husband had shingles when our second daughter was an infant. The doctor said that the kids would be fine as long as they weren't exposed to the lesions that the shingles cause. Since they were on his chest, he just kept a shirt on constantly around them and washed his hands more often than usual. The same thing happened to my friend when her son was an infant and was told the same thing. Neither her son or my daughter got it, so I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck!

I am much older that you but have chronic shingles. I have never known that it is contagious in form of shingles. I know that you have had to contracted chicken pox at some time in your life and this virus--a.k.a.---herpes virus----stays dormant in you body for the rest of your life. Some people because of stresses and chronic illnesses then develop shingles later on in life. I do hope you can get relief from them as they are painful. Some only get them once and then never again, but others suffer often with these and even after they have healed the area affected can be painful for quite some time. I know this was probably NOT much help to you, but I just wanted to share my experience with you. S.

I've had shingles, my partner had shingles (not caught from me - this was years later) and we will not be vaxing our son for CP. Our son did not catch CP. I wish he had, but that's for another topic.

Unless the rash in on an atypical place, ie not your trunk, it is NOT EASY to pass the virus. It has to be through direct contact - your daughter would have to touch the rash. Keep clothes or bandages over the area, and wash your hands throughly after you change. If you still breastfeed be careful to keep the rash very covered while nursing. If you are still nursing I would think this would be a real asset though, because it would seem to me your daughter would be getting natural (if not permanent) immunity to CP through your milk, right? That would seem to follow...

Do what you can to avoid spreading it...But I agree with another poster who said getting the chicken pox wouldn't be the end of the world for your baby.

My older son got the vaccine but came down with it anyway. This was during the time when they were just beginning to discover the vaccine was not as strong as they thought. Anyway, the kindergartner came down with a mild case (1/2 dozen spots) but the 7 month old got a good dose...Especially in his diaper area. He came through it fine...Maybe better than an older kid because he really wasn't capable of scratching.

I had mine on my side. So I just covered it with a huge "gauze" pad and then wore a shirt and went about my business. My dr said though that I didn't have it that bad...so I am not sure where you have it or how bad it is, but maybe just cover it. Hope that helps a little bit... good luck!

I am not a medical professional, and I have not had shingles. But my husband had shingles when I was pregnant and our daughter was 3. Since she had the Vericella vaccine they were not worried about her, but since I was pregnant, they wanted us to be careful. My husband's doctor had him keep the rash covered by a sterile cloth and told to keep the rash away from any physical contact with me. It is the liquid in the blisters that is contaigious. I also just looked this up to be sure before posting it too. I also found this:

Fluid from shingles blisters is contagious, and exposure to it can cause chickenpox (but not shingles) in people who have never had chickenpox.

If you develop shingles, avoid close contact with people until after the rash blisters heal. It is especially important to avoid contact with people who are at special risk from chickenpox or shingles, such as:

Pregnant women, infants, children, or anyone who has never had chickenpox.
Anyone who is currently ill.
Anyone with a weak immune system who is unable to fight infection (such as someone with HIV infection or diabetes).
One study reports that the virus that causes shingles may be released into the air from shingles sores. If you have active shingles, you may be able to prevent spreading the disease by covering the shingles sores with a type of dressing that absorbs fluids and protects the sore (hydrocolloid dressing, such as DuoDerm).

Hope you feel better soon, my hubby still has pain from it and he had it in March of 2007.

Don't sweat it too much. If she gets the pox then at least she won't remember it! Hope you feel better!

Hi R.,
I had shingles when I was in my late 20s--I was dealing with a death in the family, a stressful job, and just too many late nights. Anyways, I was put on Valtrex---kind of a funny drug but I guess that's what they treat it with--and that helped. My understanding was that the shingles were contagious when they wept, but that the virus was not contagious with indirect contact. I would keep the shingles covered as much as possible, and wash your hands if you've had any contact with them. Try to rest as much as possible--I remember sleeping so much when I had them. It took about 2 weeks before I really began to feel better. Good luck!

I don't think there is anyway not to be contagious. I had it and the doctor who diagnosed it got a bit nervous because she was pregnant. I guess that is a problem. I can't remember if at 9 months if they have had their first immunization for chicken pox. I would call her pediatrician and find out if there is anything that can be done or what to watch for in her. I had a light case and I know it wasn't fun! Stay strong and rest! Part of what sets it off is stress to your body so you need to take care of yourself!

Hi R. -- I don't have any advice about taking care of your daughter except the obvious: Wash your hands and her hands, etc.

Also, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! I have a friend who had shingles that spread to her face. That wasn't bad, but then it spread to her eye, and that was/is a disaster. Ultimately, after much pain and many years of treatment, she has lost sight in that eye. so BE EXTRA CAREFUL AROUND EYES! Don't absent-mindedly rub them! Don't use your washcloth on them if it's touched any other part of you!

GOOD LUCK! L.

Hi R.,
My sister, who is 13 years older than me, had shingles when I was about 3 years old. Shortly after her shingles went away I got the chicken pox. At that time it was thought to be a good idea to expose children to the virus so they would get the chicken pox. I had no complications to the pox. Being a virus there is really no way you can prevent it from spreading. If your child is going to get the pox she will get them. Not a big deal if she is otherwise healthy. Has she had the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine yet? Might be too young for it yet. good news is that if she does get the pox from you then she shouldn't need the vaccine...one less poke!
Hope this eases your anxiety.

Hi R.,

First of all sorry you got shingles. I know they are painful. My husband had the same thing happen to him. His shingle were on his left side of his chest. Our doctor(ped) and his doctor told him to make sure the shingles were covered when he had contact with the girls. We had 2 twin babies and a 2 year old when it hit him. He made sure he washed his hands very good and make sure he had a bandage on the shingles and 1-2 shirst over that prior to touching the girls. All was fine. We did get all the girls vaccinated for chicken pox. Remember once you have had shingles you are not suppose to be by people that have chicken pox or shingles can come back. I heard from patients that I worked with in rehab shingles that come back come back worse. So if your kids have chicken pox you'll need to go elsewhere and have someone else take care of them. My husband will have to leave as well but fortunately no chicken poxs-knock on wood.Don't want to be the bearer of bad news just informed.
Hope your case of shingles is mild. Best wishes to a speedy recovery.
L.

Hi R.,
I, too, had shingles when my daughter was 10 months old. I was still breastfeeding her so I was convinced that I would give her chicken pox. I stopped going to any classes where I might expose other babies. The doctor proscribed acyclovir because the shingles were on my head and it's very dangerous if they get to your eye so we had to stop the spread. It was the safest to use while breastfeeding. I don't think you need to take anything if they are elsewhere on your body. Your doctor will know for sure. I continued to nurse but washed my hands continually. I made it through without passing on the virus to the baby. Hang in there.

My husband had it when our son was about 7-8 months old and he didn't get it. When younger people (20-40) get shingles it's usually stress related. A little friendly advice from a mom who has been there, it wouldn't hurt to slow down a little and smell the roses. :)

Hi! I used to work for Infectious Disease Mpls Ltd. In Robbinsdale across from North Memorial. Dr Schrock is the physician there. His staff is wonderful. I am sure if you called there one of his nurses would call you back to answer all your questions about shingles and chicken pox. We saw that all the time. The number there is ###-###-####. Dr Schrock was also named to the Mpls Top Doctors.

R.,

I had shingles 4 years ago and neither of my children ended up getting the chicken pox. Both of my children had the chicken pox vaccine by then though. My shingles were on my back and therefore covered by clothing all the time which is really important. The actual shingle is really contagious when touched so keep yours covered all the time. Another possibility is to have your daughter vaccinated now if the doctor says it is okay to do, I know it is usually scheduled for the one year check-up. If your daughter does get the chicken pox that isn't such a bad thing, it may be miserable for a couple weeks but then you wouldn't have to have the vaccine and she would never contract them later in life. I wish my kids would have had the chicken pox instead of the vaccine. Good luck and I hope your shingles aren't painful and go away quickly!

:D
did your doctor tell you you were contageous?

i ended up with shingles oddly enough after i had my baby. my doctor told me that i shouldnt worry about not touching my son, or anything like that, i was even breastfeeding at the time! he just told me to keep nursing, and whatever... im sure i was given medicine, but i dont remember what it was or anything... mommy brain you know. but i do remember it was no big deal to my doctor. :D
so i wouldnt stress to much...

My husband had the shingles when my son was only about 3 months old. His doctors prescribed him some pain meds for the nerve pain and also said that if it was a really bad case (his was not) that there is a cocktail that can be injected at the site of the sores to help them go away faster. I'm not sure what it was, but you might bring it up to your doctor if you have a really bad case. My husband's lasted for about a week. We were told that as long as none of his sores were weeping and that my son wasn't in contact with any of the liquid that was weeping out that it would not be passed on. Cover up all open or weeping sores and be sure that they are covered at all times, and your little one should be safe. Good luck and speedy recovery!

Actually I got shingles when my son was 3 months old and the ped told me to not let him anywhere near the location of the outbreak (it usually is on your back and side). Wash and sanitize your hands when you hold him and you should be fine. My son never got the chicken pox and his ped said that even if he would have it would have been a very mild case of chicken pox because the younger you are the milder the outbreak. Do not worry...he needs to have direct exposure to the outbreak to get it. It is not contagious just being around him.