In these cases, the shingles virus typically spreads via direct contact with the opened blisters of your rash. After being infected, a person doesn't develop shingles, though — he or she develops chickenpox," explains Dr. Since you can't really know who is and who isn't susceptible to chickenpox, it's important to take safety measures if you have shingles.
This generally takes between 7 to 10 days," says Dr. Before your rash dries up, Dr. Brown recommends the following to prevent spreading shingles to others:. Shingles isn't life-threatening, but it can be incredibly painful and, in some cases, complications can arise.
While this rash typically goes away its own, prompt treatment can reduce your pain and help shingles go away faster. These drugs can help you heal more quickly and reduce your pain, but they are most effective when started within 72 hours of your rash appearing. This means it's important to see your doctor as soon as you suspect shingles," says Dr. But, pain can be severe for some people. In these cases, your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medications.
Beyond treating your immediate pain and rash, seeing your doctor is also important since serious complications can occur as a result of shingles, such as:. This condition can result in long-term pain that, in some cases, can be severe enough to reduce sleep quality, lead to weight loss and generally interfere with daily activities," warns Dr.
Given that shingles results from the varicella zoster virus reactivating some amount of time after having chickenpox, you may be wondering if the virus can One way to reduce your risk of getting shingles twice is the same preventive measure that helps prevent you from ever getting it in the first place: the shingles vaccine. Eventually, your doctor will start mentioning the shingles vaccine — which can help prevent shingles from developing, as well as reduce its severity if it does still develop.
The shingles vaccine can also reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia, one of the most common complications of shingles. Wash your hands often. Avoid contact with the following people until your rash crusts: pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine; premature or low birth weight infants; and people with weakened immune systems, such as people receiving immunosuppressive medications or undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, and people with human immunodeficiency virus HIV infection.
Some people have a greater risk of getting shingles. This includes people who have medical conditions that keep their immune systems from working properly, such as certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus HIV receive drugs that keep their immune systems from working properly, such as steroids and drugs that are given after organ transplantation.
Also see Treating Shingles Top of Page. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue. If they have chickenpox, shingles can develop later in life. To prevent the virus from being transmitted, keep shingles rashes covered. Cover the rash from when the blisters appear to when they crust and scab over.
According to the CDC , this usually takes 7 to 10 days. The varicella-zoster virus is typically less likely to be transmitted with shingles than with chickenpox. However, the varicella-zoster virus can be passed on from the time that your symptoms start until your rash and blisters have crusted dry.
If you have shingles and are otherwise healthy, you can still go out in public or to work. But be sure to follow these tips:. Doctors recommend the chickenpox vaccine for children. Preventing chickenpox will also prevent shingles. For adults, a different vaccine is available to prevent shingles called Shingrix. The CDC recommends it for healthy adults who are 50 years and older.
A doctor will give two doses, 2 to 6 months apart, as an injection in your arm. A double dose offers over 90 percent protection. The protection level stays above 85 percent for at least 4 years. You can get the vaccine even if you:.
A doctor can advise on this and other vaccines. Shingles is a rash that can affect people who have had chickenpox, even if they had it years ago. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus remains dormant in the body, but, in some cases, it can reactivate and cause shingles.
The shingles rash is not contagious. But the virus can be passed on to another person through contact with the rash when blisters are present. Then, that person may get chickenpox. There is less chance of passing on the virus if the rash is covered, and transmission can only happen from the time blisters form to when they scab over.
Chickenpox can last 2 to 3 weeks, but what about shingles, its adult counterpart? Here's what you need to know. Shingles, or herpes zoster, occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus is reactivated in nerve tissues.
Early symptoms include tingling and pain. Shingles without a rash is uncommon, but it can occur. This condition…. Shingles, sometimes called herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
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