This may seem a silly question, but is shingles very contagious?

[Pinkchampagne]

I saw a friend very recently, and she tells me that her DS came down with shingles just after I saw her.

Both boys & myself have had chicken pox, but that doesn't protect you from shingles does it?

I am panicking a little, as DS1 is just starting to get over his stomach bug, which will no doubt sweep through the family, and the thought of any of us getting shingles on top, is rather frightening!

I think you can only catch chicken pox from shingles.

Really? That is quite reassuring as the thought of shingles is not good. It is meant to be really horrible isn't it?

You can't catch shingles from someone with shingles. You can catch chicken pox from them.

Shingles affects people who have had chicken pox in the past. The virus lies dormant in the nerve roots and can be reactivated - usually a long time later.

HTH

eemie, is there a trigger that sets shingles off?

Oh thank you for that, eemie - you have put my mind at ease!