Are shingles contagious? This condition is a viral infection that can result in a painful, red, itchy rash. The virus varicella-zoster, which also causes chickenpox, is the culprit. You can’t pass shingles from one adult to another, but you may wind up giving chickenpox to someone who has never had the virus. For that reason, you need to be careful not to infect anyone else.

The Relationship Between Chickenpox And Shingles
You have to have had chickenpox sometime in the past in order to develop shingles. Generally speaking, the people who get shingles are over 50 years old or have weakened immune systems.

However, the condition “shingles” isn’t contagious, but the varicella-zoster virus is. While you won’t be able to give someone else shingles, you can give someone chickenpox, which means they might get shingles later on. In order to transfer the virus, the uninfected person must come into contact with someone who has open shingle sores. For this reason, you should keep your rash covered and clean anything that comes in contact with your skin.

If you have had chickenpox, you may be able to take steps to prevent the development of shingles. There is a vaccine available that may help reduce the symptoms of shingles and shorten the duration of the problem. This vaccine is appropriate for those over the age of 60 who have had chickenpox. In addition, the chicken pox vaccine can be used by those who never had chicken pox with similar results.

Shingles Complications
In some cases, shingles can lead to complications. One of these complications is vision loss. If your shingles outbreak is close to or in your eyes, you may lose eyesight. Some people develop postherpetic neuralgia, where they continue to have pain after the shingles rash has disappeared. Other complications can include facial paralysis and balance problems. In addition, the rashes themselves can become infected with bacteria.

Coping With Shingles
For a mild case of shingles, your doctor may suggest over-the-counter pain killers, anti-itch products such as calamine lotion and over-the-counter antihistamines. However, for more severe cases, your physician may prescribe anti-viral drugs and prescription pain relievers.

If you suspect that you have shingles, contact your doctor for more information, even if you think that the outbreak is minor. Your physician will be able to give you advice that may help lower your level of discomfort and prevent spreading the varicella-zoster virus to anyone else.