Shingles - he hasn't left the house!!!!

[Lou0808]

At the start of the week, DH developed what we thought were bites on his back.
As the week has progressed he's been complaining of stabbing pains and burning, his nipple has become painful and the blisters/bites have started spreading around his front.

He's called the Dr and had a video consultant and they've told him it's shingles.

This is what's confusing.

Neither of us have been in contact with anyone since March.

We have all of our shopping delivered, we've seen family through the car and we saw DH's parents last week but we're way over 2M apart on their drive.

He's been to the Dr's with DD for her vaccinations but there was no one in the surgery at the same time!

We are baffled.

DD is only 4 months and I'm concerned now about her risk of chicken pox.

How on earth does he have this??

You don't sound particularly anxious to me op 🙄 I'd be concerned too.

Dd used to get shingles quite a bit. Then later on got diagnosed with coeliac disease which is an autoimmune disease. She hasn't had shingles since going gluten free.

Looking back I do wonder if she got shingles so much because her immune system was fighting the gluten off all the time.

@ItsSpittingEverybodyIn

You don't sound particularly anxious to me op 🙄 I'd be concerned too.

I was worrying for DD as id hate for her to be affected,

I think DH has obviously been run down for him to have this 😞

There is a vaccine.

But if you don't have the vaccine, then it's better to get it young than old. I had a friend get it in his thirties, horrific.

Yes it can be when your stressed or run down or on the back of another illness but it can also just be one of those things. My ds had it and he wasn't run down or anything else.... he's been vaccinated against chicken pox so I suppose at least we know that worked!

Shingles vaccine is for those in their 70s. You can have shingles more than once. There is often no reason for it

@Raggity19

This is very interesting. I too have just been diagnosed with shingles (in my ear which has caused further complications). It does make me wonder if it’s CV related!!! Hope everyone recovers well x

What makes you think it could be Covid related? Have you had Covid?

I think it will only be covid related in that everyone is more stressed and routines and normal life has changed.

Has the Dr started your DH on acyclovir to reduce the length of illness? Did he prescribe analgesia? They can be extremely painful! I used to work in a hospital, and we'd often get patients come in with an illness or minor surgery, then develop shingles. Often from being run down, stress etc. Maybe being in lockdown is having more of an effect than you realise. Do you have any money issues/job losses at home that your DH might be concerned about?

We used to cover the shingles blisters with a clear, adhesive dressing. On brand was opsite, but pharmacies sell various brands. Assuming the area being covered isnt hairy and you get a good seal, he can shower with it on and prevents the blister liquid coming out and reduces the risk of contamination to your child.

The anti virals are only worth starting if started within 72 hours of the rash appearing. So if he thought it was insect bites for a bit he may have missed that window. We had this with dd, thought it was flea bites.

I had shingles a few years ago - also at a time of particular stress. Because it was only on my mid-torso, & I'd had a lot of time off sick for unrelated illness, I worked throughout. (Horrible sick policy at my old workplace!) No-one caught chickenpox. I was careful for several weeks until it had fully cleared, didn't touch it at work, washed my hands a lot, & didn't share food or any equipment with anyone. And I didn't get drinks for anyone else. I did tell them why! They were all just very sympathetic.

You don't have to have had recent contact with cp to activate a dormant virus. Stress can be a factor. As regards your baby keep her away from direct contact with the rash and practice good hygiene. She may have cp antibodies from you at that age. Hope he recovers soon.

Chickenpox exposure doesn't cause shingles to reactivate. In fact, exposure to chicken pox (if you've had it already) can help boost the immune response and help prevent shingles

He might feel very run down for a few months afterwards, OP.

Did the baby have the MMR ? , you can't catch it from someone with chicken pox , but the senior practice nurse said if you're a bit low it sometimes gives the virus a little nudge and it reactivate giving you shingles . I had it after children had it at nursery .

MMR does not have a CP component in UK and anyway baby is too young at 4 months for even a first dose.

I got shingles when I was on holiday and really chilled out, so
Lord knows what stress caused mine!

I took the antivirals and they really helped I’m sure. It wasn’t half as bad as I’d been led to believe and I was right as rain within a week.

No MMR as she's only 4 months.

DH hasn't been particularly stressed at all.

He was on furlough for 10 weeks but we have savings so we didn't have money worries.

He's not been getting as much sleep as usual, but that's expected with a new baby and I guess being back at work (wfh) and the 6am starts probably haven't done much good.

We're really not sure what has brought this on.

MMR has nothing to do with chickenpox or shingles. We don't get the varicella vaccine against chickenpox in the UK unless you pay privately for it.

How's his Vitamin D if he hasn't left the house? There's ongoing research that low D can contribute to outbreaks.

He’s been taking a daily vitamin. @time4anothername

There aren’t answers for these kind of things!

Hope he’s better soon and that you and DD stay well too.

Can anyone tell me when DH is safe to have contact with DD again?
At the minute he's keeping away from her.

How long does this need to be the case?

Has he been taking a daily vitamin @time4anothername