Shingles

[CharleyAB]

Hi again,

My mother in law has shingles and wants to come over this weekend. I am 18 weeks tomorrow and have had chicken pox before.

Is it safe for me to come into contact with her?

I don't want to get sick?

Thank you :)

You're fine as far as baby is concerned - the worst would be getting shingles yourself but not sure how long people are infectious for - check the nhs pregnancy pages and babycentre :)

Hi, My boss had shingles the other week, I'm 7 weeks. I phoned NHS direct in the end - they said you would need skin-to-skin contact to catch it - its not air-born, and that since I have had chicken pox and shingles i may well be immune anyway. But to feel sure, I would recommend calling NHS direct as you can talk through your exact situation with them. I know my mum who works at a hospital is strict about pregnant people not working with patients with shingles, but maybe thats to do with the potential for skin contact? I found NHS direct really clear and reassuring and then you know you are getting accurate medical advice, as the stuff on the internet about shingles still left me wondering.

Check, but DD was diagnosed with chicken pox yesterday and the Dr said it wasn't a problem as I'm 18 weeks and it's the 1st trimester that's the risk period.

No way I'm avoiding skin contact!

Well - I wouldn't risk it.

You cannot "catch" shingles. the only thing you can catch from shingles is chicken pox. The virus is being shed constantly from the person who has shingles and is highly infectious.

When you are pregnant you are somewhat immunosuppressed anyway, and it is possible to catch chicken pox twice.

Chicken pox in an adult is a very serious and unpleasant disease.

Personally, I think your MIL should be staying away from other people until she is well.

It is absolutely fine to see her. You've had chicken pox before and are therefore immune.

Btw it's not possible to catch it twice.

Singles and chicken pox are the same virus. On first exposure you get 'chicken pox' and the virus then stays dormant in your system
Shingles is reactivation of the chicken pox virus. It can reoccur many times.

Duckwadle, tell that to the doctor who just diagnosed DD's second round of chicken pox and said it's fairly common to get it a second time if the first time was mild. And the hospital consultants who diagnosed her cousin when he had it again after being hospitalised the first time.

Barbeasty is correct. It is possible to catch chicken pox a second or subsequent time if you haven't made sufficient antibodies.

Also, the period of greatest risk to the fetus is up to 28 weeks, not 18 weeks.

Open shingles is a risk to anyone who is immunosupressed or pregnant, and if you have it, it is irresponsible to put others at risk, IMO.

it should be ok if the shingles rash can be covered as you can get chicken pox from shingles but only by direct contact with the fluid from the blisters.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1110.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=137#close

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1109.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=137

You dont normally get chicken pox again but it is not unheard of.