is it safe to be around someone with Shingles?

[Lady Lilya]

In August we moved from NY to NC.  Shortly after, my grandmother's health took a bad turn.  She will probably never go home from the hospital again.

In 2 weeks we have a trip scheduled to visit.  

I found out today that she has come down with a case of Shingles while in the hospital.  

Is it safe for me to visit her?

This may be my last chance to ever see her.  And DS's last chance too.  I don't want to skip it just to be super careful.  I want to know if there is really any danger.

I had chicken pox 20 years ago, when I was 10.  

[tracymom1]

The short answer is if you are immune then you do not need to stay away.  If you want to be certain about your immunity, have your doctor or midwife run a titer.  If you are going to a nursing home or long term acute care facility, just remember that there are several infectious agents you could be exposed to, including MRSA, and that proper handwashing techniques are essential to stay healthy. 

[FrugalGranolaMom]

First of all hugs to you. I am sorry to hear about your grandmother.

My mother just recently got over a case of shingles which led me to quickly do some research on the subject since she is our only source of child care. From what I have read, Shingles isn't an airborne virus and it is only spread through direct contact with the actual sores. So, you should be just fine being in the same room visiting with your grandmother. You could always double check with your Dr. to be safe, but I think it will be ok.

Hope this helps

[Lady Lilya]

I'm wondering exactly how Grandma got it from her roommate.  (After they were in the same room a few days, the roommate came down with Shingles and they were both moved to private rooms.  That was about a week ago, I think.)  Grandma's are on her torso, below one of her breasts.  

I guess I will ask my midwife about it. It is possible she ran titers when she did the other testing.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I did some research on it too when DC was not immunized and, at the time, I didn't want her to get the pox.  From what I read, you should be fine...just don't lick your grandma.  :-)  

[hdeering]

Yep, I believe it's only shared through saliva or direct contact with sores. Which does make you wonder how she got it... maybe sharing a drink by mistake?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

From what I recall, you can't actually catch shingles...you can catch the chicken pox virus.  Shingles is a flare up of the chicken pox virus in a previously exposed person.  Or something like that.  Very interesting and a bit confusing how it all comes together - so I may have info wrong. 

[triskelion]

PP is right as far as I understand it-I had exposure to someone with shingles at around my 30 week mark and asked the midwife. There's really not much to worry about you getting it if you already had chicken pox because shingles as such isn't contagious-it's just the chicken pox virus re-activating due to other stresses in the body. Someone with shingles can give someone without previous exposure to chicken pox the chicken pox but that takes direct contact with the shingles sores. Shingles are fairly common in older people  because so many of them have other health issues stressing their systems, not to mention the nursing home/hospital environment provides a lot of emotional stress. As far as I know, your g'ma and her roommate both getting shingles would be a coincidence not a contagion. A titer would tell you for sure about your previous exposure levels.

I hope you are able to have a nice visit with your grandmother that you will be able to cherish.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

As long as you dont come into direct contact with any of the sores you are not at risk. You can hug her and even give her a hello kiss without issue unless the sores are on her face that is.

[allisonrose]

My hubby came down with shingles two months ago. We didn't even realize what it was until the blisters had already dried up. He also had a relatively minor case. My research told me the same PP are mentioning: you can caught chicken pox (if not immune) if you are directly exposed to the fluid from the blisters. We had our (nonvaxed) toddler under chicken pox watch for about 3 weeks after my hubby's shingles but he didn't get them. (Both a relief and a pity.)

[Lady Lilya]

I've been reading tons of stuff about this.

I've definitely had chicken pox, and DS definitely hasn't.  So, there is a very tiny chance that DS could get chicken pox.  But now is a very good time to get that over with, since he is 3 and we have nothing important going on in the weeks after our visit, and it would be all done about 3 months before the new baby is born.

Also, there is a very tiny chance that in me shingles could be activated.  But that could happen regardless of exposure to Grandma.  It seems to happen a lot to pregnant women.  And it isn't of any risk to the baby, unless I get it within 3 weeks of the birth and she gets exposed during birth.  If I catch it in mid-Dec, it will be long past the contagious stage by then.

And Grandma will likely be past the contagious stage by the time I get there.

[jwoodbri]

Didn't read all the posts as I am surrounded by hungry children (should probably go get dinner...) But I had shingles when my oldest was about 4-5 months old. My doctor just told me to make sure he didn't touch the shingles as it could give him chicken pox but I wasn't a threat to anyone else as no one else was going to be getting that close to rub the shingles on my back. (Well I suppose except my husband who had already had chicken pox.) I was teaching at the time and that also wasn't an issue so I would think you would be ok particularly if you have already had chicken pox. And I must say my doctor was about ready to heavily drug me upon diagnosis of shingles as it can be very painful but since I got it so young (probably 28?) it barely bothered me, I thought it was just eczema,  so I'm glad that for some reason I ended up with it so young. Not that I'm advocating trying to pick it up of course! Just saying. :)

[Lady Lilya]

Jess, I hope you don't get it again.  You can get shingles many times.

[Stayseeliz]

My mom called me today and told me she had shingles. We're supposed to go to her house in 2 1/2 weeks for a week long stay. I'll be 23 weeks and I've had chicken pox so I'm NOT an issue, right? My kids haven't had it. My oldest has had the one cp vax and my younger two haven't had any vaxes. Would it be an issue for them to get chicken pox while I was pregnant??

[Lady Lilya]

Stacey, it should be fine.  By the time you go, she will likely not be contagious.  Even now, the contagiousness is so low.  And if your kids get CP, you are safe.  The only reasonable danger is if the baby is born really really early, while they are still contagious, and catches it.  

And in my case, it doesn't matter anymore.  Grandma died yesterday, and was cremated today.  

[BarefootScientist]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya 

And in my case, it doesn't matter anymore.  Grandma died yesterday, and was cremated today.  

I'm so sorry to hear this.  Hugs.

[Stayseeliz]

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother.