First of all, what is shingles? It is generally called Herpes Zoster, a virus that develops in folk who have had chickenpox in the past. It can come about when you have been put through prolonged emotional distress, an immune system disorder like HIV / aids, or taking chemotherapy treatments. Anti-rejection drugs may also cause a shingles outbreak, because these medications must suppress the immune system to avoid rejecting a transplanted organ. Singles may start out as a low grade fever or flu-like symptoms. The fever can then be followed by pain or itchy areas on the skin, then a red rash appears inside five days. The rash turns into agonizing blisters that begin to leak clear fluid that crusts over then heals.

The issue is: are shingles contagious? Shingles is not contagious but the virus that is causing it, is. The zoster pathogen spreads by coming in contact with someone with an active zoster infection. You won't get shingles but you may get chickenpox. This answers why a niece of mine got chicken pox instead of shingles. She went near a boy who was suffering a serious case of herpes zoster. The following days, she had chicken pox. Varicella and herpes zoster spring from this same pathogen, varicella zoster. Anyone that has a prior history of chicken pox before can get shingles, but it is typically seen in folk who are sixty years of age or older. A main reason that the virus kicks back up again is because of emotional stress, which when prolonged will have a repercussion on the immune system, so reactivating a virus that has been dormant in the body for a long time resulting with a shingles infection. So if in case you have had chicken pox back when you were still young, then the chances of getting shingles when you are older is definite.

Who are most at risk? A lady who is pregnant should avoid at all costs getting shingles. If she hasn't any history of chicken pox, then the pathogen being shed can be passed unto her and her developing child. Should the expecting mum be exposed to a shingle virus, then she could develop chicken pox herself and her baby could be born already having chickenpox. This is such a fearsome thought among mothers. To safeguard yourself from shingles, one must stay away from those who have shingles.