Let's find out whether shingles is contagious or not

Is shingles contagious?

Shingles is a viral disease. It occurs from the same type of pathogen as chicken pox. Not every person can become infected with the disease. But only those who have not had chickenpox.

Most of the population experiences chickenpox in childhood, which is favorable, because in adults smallpox is more complicated. It also happens that a person did not have chickenpox in childhood and cannot become infected with it as an adult due to the high efficiency of the immune system. Such a person is at risk, because with a sharp decline in the functioning of the immune system, his risk of getting an infection is tens of times higher. And the older the patient’s age category, the more dangerous the course of both chickenpox itself and shingles.

Neurological symptoms of herpes

Complications of herpes zoster include neuralgia, severe body pain, burning and itching, pain similar to radiculitis. Any touch causes pain, so the patient is often prescribed painkillers.

Shingles, complicated or uncomplicated by neurological disorders, worries patients because they want to know whether it is contagious to the people around them? Unfortunately yes. Sometimes the incidence takes the form of an epidemic, but this happens infrequently and mainly in winter, because the virus retains unprecedented resistance to cold air temperatures.

Shingles can pass from adults to children in the form of chickenpox, but this form of the disease affects children who have not previously had the disease.

There is an opinion that it is impossible to get over herpes zoster again; in most cases, this is actually confirmed. But there are always exceptions to the rules, and they have already been registered by doctors.

The danger of infection with the virus is that it spreads to all human organs and systems without exception - it can be isolated from saliva, the contents of vesicles, and even from tears. Therefore, if a person is diagnosed with herpes zoster, it is necessary to immediately isolate him from other people, especially if they have not had chickenpox. If possible, it is better for others to avoid contact with the patient completely.

How does the shingles virus manifest itself?

Initially, shingles penetrates the nerve fibers, affecting their endings. Then, the infection process penetrates the human vegetative system. What is dangerous is the development of meningoencephalitis, diseases of internal organs. After all, herpes zoster primarily exhibits its neurotropic properties.

The activation time of the virus varies from one to five days. The affected nerve gives off a signal that causes severe pain. A person develops general weakness, body temperature rises, burning and peeling of the skin. After a couple of days, the first neoplasms appear.

Over time, half of a person's skin becomes filled with watery growths, surrounded by bright redness of the free areas of the skin. This is the main distinguishing feature of shingles from chickenpox. After a few weeks, the formations become covered with a crust, which then falls off on its own, leaving a burn mark. Which does not go away for many months and even years.

Important! Children need to be closely monitored, as an uncontrolled increase in body temperature may occur! Emergency medical assistance must be called!

Symptoms of herpes zoster

The clinical picture of a patient suffering from herpes zoster varies depending on the phase of the disease: prodromal stage, clinical manifestations and finally residual. The following symptoms may indicate herpes zoster:

• increase in body temperature;
• chills;
• weakness;
• fatigue;
• reduced performance;
• rash on the body.

The rash for herpes zoster is quite typical and has the following symptoms:

1. Formed along the nerve trunks.
2. Most often it is located on the back, abdomen, on the sides of the body, it can also affect the face, note that it runs along the line of the trigeminal nerve.
3. Initially, the rash appears as spots 5 cm in size and pink in color. Later they turn into small blisters containing a serous substance. The diameter narrows somewhat and does not exceed 3 cm. Accumulations of the rash can be different; they fit tightly to each other and are often placed in a line. Next, the internal structure of the blisters becomes cloudy, after which, after a week to ten days, crusts form instead. Subsequently, these crusts fall off, and hypopigmented spots appear in their place.

Routes of infection in adults and children

The routes of infection with the virus are the same in adults and children. With the exception of placental. A pregnant woman infected with lichen instantly infects her baby. After birth, the virus becomes inactive until there is a sharp decline in the protective functions of the child’s body. In this case, the baby will become self-infected.

The disease is transmitted through touch and common household objects. For example, through a doorknob, towel, plate, notebook or toy. The most common stage of infection is the active stage. If possible, during this period, you should avoid sharing a common location with a sick person.

“ Is shingles transmitted through the air?” - Yes! Airborne spread of infection occurs when a person kisses, talks, coughs or sneezes. Another way of transmitting infection from person to person is sexually. Therefore, you should avoid sexual intercourse until you have fully recovered!

How is the virus transmitted?

photo of what herpes zoster looks like in humans.
The herpes virus is transmitted immediately after interaction with an infected person and immediately affects the area of ​​the skin and nervous system of the victim.

Shingles is contagious and it is important to understand what routes of transmission of a dangerous viral pathology exist. The following methods of infection are possible:

• By airborne droplets, in which the virus is localized in the mucous membranes of the carrier of the infection, from where it enters the air after coughing or sneezing. Subsequently, the virus remains in the form of an aerosol until a healthy person inhales contaminated air.
• By contact, in which the virus enters the body of a healthy person after direct contact with the skin of an infected person.
• Women expecting a baby may wonder whether herpes is transmitted during pregnancy. The answer in this case is affirmative: infection can occur through the transplacental route. The answer to the question of whether herpes is inherited is negative. It is worth taking into account how a newborn baby can become infected. This can happen during pregnancy or birth, through the birth canal.

Sometimes herpes can also occur before menstruation: this is due to changes in hormonal levels and further exposure to hypothermia, overheating and vitamin deficiency in a woman’s body.

How to protect yourself from infection. Prevention.

Ringworm is an unpleasant disease that puts high pressure on a person’s psychological state. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of the disease. To do this, you should lead a healthy lifestyle. And also observe all the following preventive measures:

• Carry out hardening procedures.
• During autumn and spring, take vitamin and mineral complexes. Vitamin D is especially important.
• Get plenty of rest (at least 8 hours a day).
• Dress according to the weather.
• Wear clothes of the right size only from natural materials.
• Do not irritate damaged skin with cosmetics and alkaline hygiene products. A mild antibacterial soap should be used.
• It is prohibited to have sexual or physical contact with a person infected with lichen.
• It is necessary to maintain a healthy immune system. To do this, during the period of viral exacerbation, it is recommended to take a daily minimum dosage of an immunomodulatory drug.
• Use only your own towel, plate, mug and spoon.
• Bed linen should be changed at least 2 times a week.
• Every day you need to ventilate the rooms for at least 20 minutes.
• The floors should be wiped down and floors washed using disinfectants every day.
• If you have pets at home, you need to shake out the carpets at least 3 times a week. If they are absent, at least 2 times.
• If there is a child in the house, toys are washed daily with a mild antibacterial agent. Soft toys - washed once a week with daily shaking out of dust.
• If a child accidentally becomes infected, he should be protected exclusively by his home social circle.
• It is strictly prohibited for an infected person to bathe in a bath, sauna or bathhouse. It is necessary to limit yourself to taking a contrast shower no more than every other day. It is recommended to rinse the baby under warm running water no more than 2 times a week. On other days, instead of bathing, you need to wipe the child’s skin with a warm, damp towel.

Important! A sharp deterioration in the condition of herpes zoster requires immediate inpatient treatment in an infectious diseases hospital!

Shingles has a fragile structure. It can be easily destroyed by careful adherence to hygiene measures. If cleanliness and hygiene are not observed, the infection will quickly reach household members who have not had chickenpox. The rate of penetration of pathogenic organisms will increase.

It is important to know whether shingles is contagious or not? Causes and treatment

It is very difficult to argue that herpes zoster, or the more common popular definition of “shingles,” is contagious, extremely difficult. This can be explained by the fact that it occurs due to the activation of the chickenpox virus, which maliciously lurks in childhood. The virus can remain latent throughout life and become more active under the influence of various factors.

Types of herpes virus

Development of herpes zoster

At-risk groups

The likelihood of developing herpes zoster is quite high in people with cancer and HIV-infected people. It is not uncommon for the disease to manifest itself some time after chemotherapy. Also at risk are people who have been taking immunosuppressants or corticosteroids for a long period (the disease will be complicated with possible relapses).

The occurrence of herpes zoster

A disease manifested by the formation of rashes on the skin in the form of blisters filled with liquid, the appearance of which is preceded by severe pain and burning - this is herpes zoster or herpes zoster. The disease occurs as a result of the activation of the varicella zoster virus, which remains latent until the immunity of the virus carrier weakens due to the coincidence of a number of factors.

Almost always, the patient and those around him are interested in the question: is herpes zoster contagious or not? In order to find out, you need to consider in detail the pathogenesis of the disease and the causes of herpes zoster.

We suggest you read: Is viral pemphigus in children contagious or not?

The main cause of shingles is the activation of the virus present in a person who has had chickenpox. After suffering from chickenpox, the virus remains in the body, passing into a latent (hidden) form and begins to infect nerve endings when the body partially loses its immune defense.

• Old age (60 and older)
• Past cancer and HIV infection
• Condition after radiation and chemotherapy
• Stress, chronic fatigue
• Organ or bone marrow transplant
• Long-term use of potent medications (immunosuppressants, corticosteroids)
• Diabetes

If the risk factors and causes of herpes zoster are known, you can take preventive measures - avoid stress, optimize your work and rest schedule, and undergo medical examination on time. Physical exercise and an increase in the proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet help improve immunity.

We figured out whether herpes zoster is contagious or not and how it is transmitted. Now it is advisable to raise the question of the reasons for the activation of the virus and its transition to an active form.

The most common cause of manifestation is a decrease in the general health of a person and, as a result, a weakening of the protective ability of the immune system.

The main provoking factors are the following:

• Excessive hypothermia. Often those affected by herpes zoster note that before the infection they caught a cold, and after that a characteristic rash with blisters formed. It is important to note that hypothermia becomes almost the root cause of the activation of virus cells;
• Indiscriminate use of medications. This is especially true for antibiotics, which suppress the immune system’s ability to naturally resist, thereby undermining human health;
• The presence of various oncological diseases, especially affecting the hematopoietic function of the body;
• Frequent chemotherapy sessions;
• Presence of HIV infection or acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome;
• Excessive stress, overwork, consumption of large quantities of alcohol and tobacco;
• Improper lifestyle, which can include promiscuity, erratic day and night routines, poor or unhealthy diet, etc.

So: we found out that it is quite possible to become infected with herpes zoster. A healthy person more often becomes infected from a sick person, or through common household items. As for this particular manifestation: there is a possibility of formation in healthy people after communicating with those affected by chickenpox, if the latter have not had it.

In this case, the risk of transmitting virus cells from person to person is especially high, which is due to the fact that the human body, which has not previously had it, is incapable of independently suppressing the herpes virus by producing antibodies.

Close contact with an affected person does not give a 100% chance of your defeat, but it is worth understanding that the hidden form of the disease already lives in you. In order to prevent the manifestation and occurrence of relapses or complications that can be caused by the virus, it is recommended to carefully monitor your own health, maintain a normal immune system, and immediately contact your doctor at the first symptoms of the disease.

Timely treatment measures are half the success in the fight against herpes zoster!

Related Posts
• Which doctor treats herpes – who should I contact?
• What happens if you pierce herpes on your lips?
• Herpes zoster - causes

This is how it is transmitted.
There are 3 ways to transmit shingles:

1. airborne;
2. contact and household;
3. from mother to fetus.

Contact with a sick person does not always lead to infection. Previously, it was believed that it was impossible for a person who had chickenpox to become infected again. During his life, he may experience manifestations of herpes zoster due to a decrease in the body's protective properties, but not through contact with a carrier.

It is transmitted during childbirth
. But it has now been established that with a weakened immune system, HIV infection and oncology, there is a risk of contracting lichen from a patient in the acute stage of the disease, even if the person has already had chickenpox. Repeated infection may manifest as chickenpox or herpes zoster.

You can catch the disease only from a patient who has a rash on his body. Moreover, the formation of a crust or the complete absence of vesicles indicates that herpes is not dangerous for another person. The Varicella-Zoster virus is not transmitted sexually.

A child's immunity is weaker than that of an adult, so parents should have an idea of ​​how herpes zoster is transmitted and how to avoid recurrence of the disease. The 5 days before birth and 2 days after are especially dangerous. At this time, the child is most susceptible to the virus.

In the first year of life, the baby is protected by maternal antibodies, which are transmitted through breastfeeding. If a woman has not had chickenpox or is not breastfeeding, then when in contact with a sick person, the risk of infection of the newborn is very high. The Varicella-Zoster virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, so keeping a child in the same room as a sick person is very dangerous.

On the face

Most cases of chickenpox (80%) occur before the age of 7 years. Basically, almost all children manage to get sick before the end of adolescence.

Chickenpox indicates that the chickenpox virus has settled in the child's body. From this point on, he is at risk of recurrence of the disease, most often in the form of shingles. To prevent this from happening, parents should monitor the child’s immunity and follow the following recommendations.

1. If possible, hardening procedures should be carried out.
2. In the summer, the child should receive the necessary portion of vitamin D, which strengthens the body's protective functions. It is necessary to ensure that the child spends more time in the fresh air and sunbathes. The best vacation would be a vacation by the sea.
3. A child's diet should be balanced, rich in beneficial microelements. Several times a year you need to take vitamin and mineral complexes.

Treatment

If young people have good immunity, chickenpox is not treated with drugs - the body copes with the virus on its own. But in severe cases, the risk of complications, the course of the disease in adulthood and old age, as well as the manifestation of herpes zoster, antiviral therapy is mandatory. If there is suppuration of the ulcers, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

At the first appearance of symptoms of lichen, you should consult a therapist, infectious disease specialist or dermatologist. In some cases, consultation with an ophthalmologist or neurologist is required.

On the chest

General treatment plan:

1. The first 3 days - antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Valtrex, Famciclovir Tera).
2. To reduce pain - Ibuprofen, Naproxen, gel with Lidocaine, Nimesulide.
3. If the nervous system is damaged, antidepressants, sleeping pills and sedatives may be prescribed.
4. For external treatment of the skin - Epigen cream, antihistamines, Solcoseryl, ointments containing Acyclovir. The effectiveness of a solution of brilliant green, potassium permanganate, and boric acid is questioned by many doctors. These products dry out the skin and speed up the formation of crusts, but can cause burns and cause scarring. Therefore, it is better to replace them with antiherpetic agents.
5. If a patient develops a gangrenous form, doctors prescribe antibiotics and, in some cases, additional immunomodulators.

Related articles:

Diagnostic methods. Tests for herpes zoster

Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of whether a person has shingles! If nonspecific symptoms of the disease occur, the dermatologist may prescribe the patient to undergo a series of laboratory tests. The main study is: venous blood sampling to detect the polymerase chain reaction of herpes zoster. The next step is to donate blood to check for antibodies to the pathogenic organism present.

In some cases, the patient is asked to be tested for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus. This is due to the fact that shingles is sometimes the main symptom of these diseases. If the patient feels critically unwell, the doctor can prescribe symptomatic treatment without waiting for the results of laboratory tests. This allows a sick person to alleviate the suffering caused by lichen. And after receiving the results, he prescribes a long course of treatment with enhanced-action drugs.

Stages of development and symptoms

After infection with the Zoster virus and its transition to the latent stage, the incubation period begins. It usually takes several decades before the disease can be transmitted to others. The stages of development of herpes zoster after the incubation period are as follows:

• prodromal stage;
• manifestation stage;
• recovery stage.

Prodromal stage

The prodromal period lasts no more than 5 days from the moment the virus is activated. Initially it manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• general weakness;
• nausea to the point of vomiting;
• high temperature (38-39°);
• manifestations of myalgia (pain in muscle tissue);
• growth of lymph nodes.

The place where the rash will appear is innervated by the infected nerve plexus, in which the Varicella Zoster incubation period took place.

Shortly before their appearance, a person may feel painful sensations of an aching, burning and pulsating nature, which torment constantly or in attacks.

The resulting pain is often confused with the following diseases:

• Inflammation of the gallbladder;
• Angina;
• Lung diseases;
• Intercostal neuralgia;
• Colic in the intestines.

The pain may increase with palpation of the area or exposure to cold. Sometimes patients notice a weakening of sensitivity at the site of future rashes at night. This is due to the rapid multiplication of the virus in nerve fibers.

Manifestation stage

Mostly, patients come to the doctor at the stage of clinical manifestations. As it develops, shingles goes through 2 stages:

• Erythematous. The skin innervated by infected nerve plexuses turns red and begins to swell.
• Papulo-vesicular. Papules that resemble nodules are grouped on the affected area of ​​the skin. After 2 days, they become vesicles, that is, bubbles with liquid. They can be of any size and merge with each other. The serous fluid inside the vesicles will gradually become cloudier.

Possible complications

Patients of childhood and adolescence rarely experience complications of this disease. Consequences often appear in infected people with the human immunodeficiency virus. And also in elderly patients. The following series of negative consequences of neglect of the disease are noted:

• Gasserow's disease.
• Keratitis.
• Iritis.
• Disorder of sensory and motor abilities.
• Inflammation of the iris.
• Encephalitis.
• Ganglionitis.

Important! Complications can easily occur in women during pregnancy! Expectant mothers should not carry out home treatment with medications and traditional medicine methods! The best solution is hospital treatment!

Lichen, like any other disease, needs to be treated at the initial stage of development. Especially for older people. Self-medication is not the answer. Only a specialist from a dermatology clinic can prescribe the most safe and highly effective treatment!