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Is Shingles Contagious?

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Posted on Fri, 23 Sep 2016
Question: Is shingles contagious? I had Shingles at age 10 y.o. in the brachial nerve branch on the left side. I have had sore feeling skin for 4 days and some deeper shoulder and neck pain with it. Today I have notices two groups of red sores in that area and they are sore to touch. I have had the Shingles vaccine (2 years ago)
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
when lesion open and come into contact with another person

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

It is possible to transmit the chicken pox virus which is the virus responsible for shingles.

When the lesions are open , transmission can occur if another person comes into contact with them. If you have the area covered , then this cannot occur

When they are crusted over, then transmission can no longer occur.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (24 minutes later)
Can a person get Shingles more than one time in a life time? Is there any medication to help the symptoms ? Thank you for this help
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes can recur

Detailed Answer:
HI

Yes, it can recur, the intervals can vary from one person to the next. One person may have frequent attacks whereas another may not.

Shingles is commonly associated with pain. The common pain medications can work or more specific nerve related pain meds such as gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica, amitriptyline (these meds are used for nerve related pain-neuralgia)

These would require a prescription and can be used if the more commonly used pain meds are not effective eg naproxen, ibuprofen, cataflam etc

please feel free to ask anything else
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Is Shingles Contagious?

Brief Answer: when lesion open and come into contact with another person Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic It is possible to transmit the chicken pox virus which is the virus responsible for shingles. When the lesions are open , transmission can occur if another person comes into contact with them. If you have the area covered , then this cannot occur When they are crusted over, then transmission can no longer occur. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions