#CHICKEN POX AND SHINGLES SKIN#

The mother is already carrying the varicella zoster virus before developing shingles and there is no increase in the risk of passing it on to the fetus if shingles develops. Shingles, chickenpox and pregnancyĪn attack of shingles during pregnancy will not harm the unborn baby.

The virus can be spread by direct contact with the lesions or by touching any dressings, sheets or clothes soiled with discharge from the spots. Shingles can be spread when a person comes into contact with fluid contained in the blisters. How shingles is spread to a person who has not had chickenpox disease or vaccinations

#CHICKEN POX AND SHINGLES SKIN#

Once the attack is over, the skin usually returns to normal, but there can be some scarring or a secondary bacterial infection in severe cases. During that time, a scaly crust might appear. The rash usually lasts about 10 to 15 days. The chest and lumbar region are most commonly affected. The rash forms its characteristic pattern because the virus works down the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. Classically, the rash caused by shingles often takes the shape of a belt from the midline on one side of the body. Shingles can affect any part of the body, including the face. Tender, painful skin, tiredness, headache and photophobia may occur 2 to 3 days before the skin turns red and breaks out in tiny fluid-filled blisters. Shingles is a skin rash characterised by pain and blistering which usually appears on one side of the face or body. A person who has never had chickenpox, but comes into contact with a case of shingles, would develop chickenpox (not shingles). However, people who have never had chickenpox can catch the virus from another person with shingles. Fortunately, it is rare to have more than one attack of shingles.Īnyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. People who get chickenpox External Link are at risk of developing shingles later in life, since the virus lies dormant in the body. It occurs because of a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains in the nerve cells of the body after an attack of chickenpox. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox.

Chicken pox and shingles