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grrr - FIL has shingles

jonsdeedeejonsdeedee
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

I will start by saying I am not angry that he is sick.  He came down with shingles and was diagnosed today.  He was over here for Thanksgiving and I know he touched DD.  I spoke with MIL today about something unrelated and she did not tell me about the shingles.  Instead she called DH's aunt (a nurse) who told her they are not contagious.  That is wrong.  They are contagious to those who have not had chicken pox especially infants (says Dr. Google). 

DH calls his parents house and talks to FIL about something and FIL mentions the shingles as part of the conversation.  Not oh by the way you should know I have shingles, but like oh went to the doctor today.  Says I have shingles, could you please pass the potatoes.  

So I don't find out until after peds office is closed so can't call until tomorrow.  Of course DD had her 4 month shots yesterday and is fussy but all I can think of is she is coming down with chicken pox.    So annoying.  I know it is unlikely, but I would like to hear my doctor say it, you know.

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Re: grrr - FIL has shingles

  • *blondie**blondie* member
    Unless your fil directly scratched the shingles then touched your lo there is no need to worry. My mom had shingles in October and it was never a problem.
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  • g8orellg8orell member
    I'm a pediatric dermatology PA and see this alot. It is not that contagious. You have to really touch the areas in order to get it - it's not like it's airborne, and you cannot get chicken pox from shingles - they are two different strains of the virus. Shingles is from the herpes zoster virus  (HZV) and chicken pox is from the varicella zoster virus (VZV); Don't worry - I have patients that have little brothers and sisters who wrestle with them before knowing the diagnosis, and they don't get it!!
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  • volligtollvolligtoll
    I've had shingles and the only way for someone to catch chicken pox from someone with shingles is to have touched the shingles rash. I don't know where the rash is on your FIL but if it was covered by clothes your baby is probably fine. But I would still check with a pedi to make sure, that sucks that they didn't mention anything to you ahead of time.
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  • madonnadouwannamadonnadouwanna

    image*blondie*:
    Unless your fil directly scratched the shingles then touched your lo there is no need to worry. My mom had shingles in October and it was never a problem.

    This.  My dad had shingles while I was pregnant and was just getting over them when DD was born.  I have never had chicken pox so the doctor just said as long as I wasn't scratching my dad's face and he washed his hands before being around me, I was fine. 

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  • zubenescamalizubenescamali member

    imageg8orell:
    you cannot get chicken pox from shingles - they are two different strains of the virus. Shingles is from the herpes zoster virus  (HZV) and chicken pox is from the varicella zoster virus (VZV)

    um, not correct.  shingles is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, one of the many herpes zoster viruses...not a different strain.  so yes, you can get chicken pox from shingles.

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  • g8orellg8orell member
    imagezubenescamali:

    imageg8orell:
    you cannot get chicken pox from shingles - they are two different strains of the virus. Shingles is from the herpes zoster virus  (HZV) and chicken pox is from the varicella zoster virus (VZV)

    um, not correct.  shingles is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, one of the many herpes zoster viruses...not a different strain.  so yes, you can get chicken pox from shingles.

    You're right - they used to be considered separate strains, but now research shows they are the same, but after you have chickenpox (varciella zoster), it lays dormant in the nerve roots as a different "type" -  herpes zoster, so a child can never get shingles from someone else, but yes, they can get chickenpox but it is highly unlikely that you can get chickenpox from someone else (and you cannot get shingles from someone else) - at least that is how my supervising physician explained it to patients.

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