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??

Whenever, as long as the sores are covered.

Sorry your DH is unwell OP. Try not to worry too much though. Shingles can be really unpleasant but usually gets better on its own, and whilst it can indicate and underlying health condition its often just because the person is a bit run down or stressed. The time I had it I am sure it was related to stuff going on at work, and this is a really stressful tume for most people. Not that I am saying ignore it, and obviously if your DH doesn't start to improve or shows symptoms of anything else then do seek medical advice. Just don't assume the worst. I think its fairly common. I think all the adults in my family have had it at some point.
The Scottish NHS website has a lot more detail than the English one so it might help you. Their advice is that affected individuals should stay away from people who may be at risk from catching chicken pox until the last spot has scabbed over.
I hope your DH feels better soon and that you cope ok with the anxiety and looking after the little one whilst he can't touch her. That sounds tough but hopefully it will pass soon.
www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/shingles

I've had shingles twice, once as a child, and once in my late teens. I don't think those times were any more stressful or I was more tired than any other times in my life...

If the blisters can be covered he doesn't need to avoid your dd

OP you can also get it after an insect bite or similar. I had it after I got eaten alive by midges and a friend had it after being stung by a jellyfish.

It's awful, sorry for your DH! I had it in my eye and head, it was excruciating.

One thing to know about chicken pox is kids don't develop immunity until they're toddlers, so if your child has it now it won't give her immunity against having it again.

Insect bites and jellyfish stings don't cause shingles. My ds must have had a decent enough reaction to the chickenpox he had when he was 6 months old as he had shingles age 3 for no reason. Having chicken pox under 1 year makes it more likely to have childhood shingles.

stress to the body like bad stings could trigger it if you are unlucky. Like sunburn can trigger latent cold sores. The herpes viruses are like that, they are opportunistic to reappear when conditions enable them too.

That's interesting time4anotgername as I remember that my Dad always used to get cold sores on holiday, which confused me as I understood it was illness/stress that caused it and he was at his most relaxed and well on family holidays. Dad always said he blamed the sun - maybe he was right after all then.

@DemolitionBarbie

OP you can also get it after an insect bite or similar. I had it after I got eaten alive by midges and a friend had it after being stung by a jellyfish.

It's awful, sorry for your DH! I had it in my eye and head, it was excruciating.

One thing to know about chicken pox is kids don't develop immunity until they're toddlers, so if your child has it now it won't give her immunity against having it again.

@DemolitionBarbie I myself got chicken pox when I was 9 months old. I've been around lots of kids that have had them and didn't get them a second time!!

Demolition DS2 had CP at one week old (older brother had it too at the time). He's now 15 and never had it again, even when it was doing the rounds at nursery.
I'm a practice nurse and never heard this. Where did you get that info?

I think sometimes you don't get full immunity if you get it as a baby. If you do get it under age 1 there is a higher chance of childhood shingles

Your Dad was right Mrs Avocet. www.intechopen.com/books/human-herpesvirus-infection-biological-features-transmission-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment/sunlight-and-herpes-virus