Are Shingles Contagious? - Discussion

Shingles can be painful, uncomfortable, and difficult to get rid of, but are shingles contagious?

Yes, in some instances, they can be. Sometimes, shingles can be contagious to other people, but usually only if they have not already been exposed to the virus in question.

If a person has shingles, then he or she can pass the virus on to someone else. However, if that second person has never had chickenpox before, then the virus will show up as chickenpox and not shingles itself.

While the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox can spread through direct contact through open wounds and rashes, shingles itself is not completely contagious. Are shingles contagious? An otherwise healthy person cannot get shingles upon coming into contact with the shingles virus unless the person with shingles has blisters that are oozing. Even then, they must have direct contact with one another, and the virus can't be spread by coughing or sneezing.

Once the blisters crust over, shingles is not contagious. Until then, however, the person with shingles should make sure that they keep the blisters covered so that the disease does not have a chance to spread. Wearing long sleeves, using light gauze bandages, and applying products to the skin to encourage drying of the blisters can be helpful. It is also important to try to keep from scratching the blisters, too, as the fluid of the blisters can get under the fingernails and spread. These are important tips when considering the question 'are shingles contagious'.

If a person has already had chickenpox, then the chances of them catching shingles from another person is relatively low to nonexistent. The reason for this is that if they have already had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is already in their body to begin with, so technically they can't catch it again. (Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the same virus.)

It is really only the people who have never had chickenpox who need to worry about the question 'are shingles contagious'. Once the blisters have crusted over, however, the chance of spreading shingles to even people who have never had chickenpox is very low.

Are shingles contagious? Simply being in the same room with a person who has shingles will not cause someone to catch chickenpox. Most shingles infections are contagious only from open wounds and not from air borne particles. Therefore, direct contact must be made in order to pass it on. Some children have received vaccines, as well, which can decrease their chances of getting the virus.

In conclusion, shingles are contagious to people who have not had chickenpox, but they are not contagious without direct contact. If you have a shingles outbreak, it is very important that you keep your blisters covered, do your best to dry up the oozing with things like calamine lotion and oatmeal pastes, and to keep from making contact with individuals who have not had chickenpox.

Children are most susceptible to the disease, and if you know that you have an outbreak, keeping yourself away from those who have never had the disease until your blisters have crusted over is important.

Having read about 'are shingles contagious', you may wish to find out more about shingles and chickenpox by reading the related shingles articles and pages.

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