Shingles/chicken pox

[JennyBlueWren]

Have just been told that someone I was in contact with last week has shingles and their GP has said I need to get checked out.

How serious is the danger? I had chicken pox as a child so hadn't been too concerned about it before and have been around children with chicken pox earlier in my pregnancy.

Shingles can only transmit chicken pox with contact from the fluid from the blisters so unlikely to catch it that way especially if the rash was covered. As you have already had chicken pox then that would make it even more unlikely for you to get it again. I don't think you need to worry much at all

Yes if you had no contact with the fluid in the blisters, you should be fine.

I have lots of personal experience of this! I caught chickenpox from Shingles as an adult and had already had chickenpox as a child. I don't think I was in direct contact with blisters - but I was staying at my DDads house for a few days while he had it so prolonged exposure I guess.

When pregnant with DC2 my DD caught chickenpox and I was advised to go to the GP for a test to check I had immunity - this was a quick way to put my mind at rest that I was not at risk.

I think the risks of cpox in pregnancy depend very much on stage of pregnancy and there is preventative 'stuff' they would do if you actually caught it.

It sounds like it's pretty unlikely but given the incubation period it might be worth popping to your GP to put your mind at ease 100%

If youve had it as a child you should be immune and absolutely fine. If your concern ask drs to check immunity.

DS had it a few weeks a go and i didnt know if id ever had it so was panicing a bit, gp did blood test which came back that i was immune.

Phoned the midwives and they said I should be immune but to go to GP if I get (although obviously I would anyway)

I'm a nurse and the advice from my occy health department was that because I had chicken pox as a child if I could not avoid a patient with shingles (not always possible) then full barrier nursing - which basically means wear an apron and gloves when with patient and thorough hand washing afterwards. In reality for you where aprons and gloves are not practical, try to limit interaction and touching the person if you have to be around them, and ensure good hand washing. Chances are you'll be fine as it's the leaking fluid from the sores that are contagious, and I'm guessing you didn't come in contact with any wound fluid?

The only contact was her giving me a hug. Don't think she had leaking sores or else she wouldn't have been there (summer club).

Sounds very promising then. See GP for reassurance. X