Exposed to Shingles, Am I contagious?

Question

I drove a co-worker to the ER yesterday. I drove him in my car and sat with him for a half an hour. I touched the medication he had with him. He also had a sinus infection and was coughing and sneezing near me. I just found out today that he has a sever case of shingles and he is currently quarentined at the hospital. Is it possible that I contracted the virus and am I currently contagious? I have had chicken pox in the past but I'm healthy so I'm not necessarily concerned about contracting it. I worried that I may pass it to other people. I called my GP and they told me to avoid my pregnant friends along the the real young and real old until I'm sure I don't have it which could take up to 21 days before I know. Is this for real?! If I am contagious, how long will it take for me not to be?

Answer 1

No.



Shingles is reactivation of the virus which occurs with previous chicken pox.



The virus is not on the surface of the body but in the nerves, is reactivated in the nerve, and is no risk to others.



You are no risk to others. There is no risk to you.



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"Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox, the virus stays in your body. It may not cause problems for many years. As you get older, the virus may reappear as shingles.



Unlike chickenpox, you can't catch shingles from someone who has it."



http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?input-form=simple&v%3Asources=medlineplus-bundle&v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=shingles+&x=0&y=0



Shingles is a disease that affects nerves and causes pain and blisters in adults. It is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus does not leave your body, but continues to live in some nerve cells. For reasons that aren’t totally understood, the virus can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it’s activated, it produces shingles.



Just like chickenpox, people with shingles will feel sick and have a rash on their body or face. The major difference is that chickenpox is a childhood illness, while shingles targets older people. Most adults live with the virus in their body and never get shingles. But about one in five people who have had chickenpox will get shingles later in life—usually after the age of 50.



When the activated virus travels along the path of a nerve to the surface of the skin, a rash will appear. It usually shows up as a band on one side of the face or body. The word “shingles” comes from the Latin word for belt or girdle because often the rash is shaped like a belt."



http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/shingles.asp





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You have no more or less risk of developing shingles yourself than you did before:

advanced age and HIV, both lowering the immune system increase the risk of shingles.





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Answer 2

1

Answer 3

SHINGLES IS CONTAGIOUS! I might NEVER permit any person to percentage any beverages w/ me! You are sharing a lot more- physically fluids, viruses and bacterias! Even IF you had the Chicken pox you'll nonetheless obtain the shingles. In truth, such a lot who do have the shingles have had the bird pox! There are many ailment related w/ the virus which reasons the shingles, they're all within the HERPES ZOSTER viruses... Including- herpes, mono (Epstein Barr Virus) , CMV, cox sackie virus (hand foot & mouth sickness) and so on... I had not ever had the bird pox and aquired from a geriatric sufferer who had the shingles- I then had each the shingles and bird pox whilst - within and out, even had an elious that's critical- it method my method was once shutting down- my bladder, liver and intestines all stopped operating! I might be wary in case you have been round her in any respect with ago days main as much as her ailment or till she has been given the "all transparent"! You obviously don't wish the Shingles! Hope you don't get them! Usually humans wouldn't have them once more till later in existence, however it isn't distinguished if uncovered, in case your immune method is moderately compromised or beneath strain. If you do have any signs, get in to a general practitioner. There are Antiviral meds used now to regard and cut down the severity and duration of period.

Answer 4

I would not worry too much you are most likely not contagious don't let it ruin your social life for the next month. I would get a second opinion from a medical professional. But as far as I understand shingles if you already had chickenpox it takes more than exposure to cause one to come down with shingles.