MIL has shingles. do I need to worry?

12 replies

Bondy83 · 06/10/2014 12:43

Hi currently 19wk with ds3. I was at MIL few days ago after about an hour she announces she has shingles. I've had chicken pox as a kid do I need to be worried? Is it harmful to the baby if ive already had chicken pox? Do I need to look out for anything? Staying away from her isn't really an option as she looks after my eldest 2 after school whilst I'm in work.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bondy83 · 06/10/2014 12:45

Also my youngest hasn't had chicken pox yet so I suppose there's always a chance he will now get them

OP posts:

tomanyanimals · 06/10/2014 12:48

Speak to your doctor I was told to stay away from someone who had shingles and I really wouldn't let my children near after seeing my dad with shingles near his eye and how much agony he was in

3littlefrogs · 06/10/2014 12:50

You can't catch shingles.
You can catch chicken pox from someone who has shingles.
It is possible to get chicken pox twice so you do need to get medical advice.

gertiegusset · 06/10/2014 12:59

You can catch shingles but it's quite rare to.
You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven't had it before so babies will be at risk.
If you keep the rash covered it helps stop people catching it, DD has had it on the tip of her nose which is obviously hard to keep covered so she stayed away from DN.

babykonitsway · 06/10/2014 13:03

I hope you gave your MIl a piece of your mind, she obv thought there may be an issue or she wouldn't have mentioned it at all.

Noyoucantwatchpeppapig · 06/10/2014 15:32

You can catch chickenpox if you have not had it from someone with shingles. But it's when the rash is weeping and you have to have contact with the rash for that to happen.
I'm currently pregnant but had chickenpox as a child and recently one of my patients had it so checked with infection control and they said it was fine for me to treat the patient

daholster · 07/10/2014 08:36

It's fine so long as you have definitely had chikenpox. If not you need to see a Dr ASAP no delay to protect your unborn baby from catching chickenpox.

ShadowStar · 07/10/2014 08:43

My sister was exposed to chicken pox when pregnant. She'd had it as a child, but her doctor was able to arrange for a blood test to check whether she was still immune (she was).

skyra13 · 07/10/2014 09:28

I was at work with someone who has them just a couple of weeks ago it wont harm You or your baby you can not catch them.

Most ppl are immune to it as alot of us had chicken pox as a child, also if it is covered it is fine, if you not had chicken pox u can catch it from shingles if it weeping and you touch it, so don't go touching when weeping it will be fine :)

daholster · 07/10/2014 10:40

If it's weeping its airborne... But if had chickenpox all ok. Go might do reassuring blood test just in case but nor usually needed.

biscuitsandbandages · 07/10/2014 10:45

Even if you were non immune to chickenpox catching shingles is very hard if the wound is covered and I suspect since you didnt notice it that it was, by clothes or whatever.

If you are concerned your gp may be able to give you more reassurance and may suggest checking your chickenpox immunity to save further worry if it has not been done previously.

ilovepowerhoop · 07/10/2014 10:46

the method of catching chicken pox from shingles is not airborne but by direct contact with fluid from the blisters. If the rash is covered and you have had chicken pox already then there is little risk. You cannot catch shingles from shingles as it is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus that you have had in the past.

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