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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Long Is Shingles Infection Contagious?

I am about day 14 of a shingle outbreak . I baby sit a 21 month old who is not vaccinated for chicken pox and his Mother is 3 months pregnant R but thinks she has had chicken pox. Am I still contageious to them while I did not have a lot of pox they appear scabbed over however I still have residual nerve pain.
Tue, 22 May 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

In theory, shingles would be contagious until the vesicles are scabbed over which is the case with chicken pox. In reality, there are not reports of spread of the herpes varicella zoster virus from people who have shingles like there are when people have chicken pox, which can be spread by respiratory secretions even before erupting in pox. So it should be ok for you to be around the baby and his pregnant mom. Residual nerve pain can unfortunately persist even after the skin is completely clear, but does not indicate contagiousness. If you were able to get on an antiviral within 72 hrs or so of the eruptions, the chances your nerve pain will resolve without issue are very good.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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How Long Is Shingles Infection Contagious?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. In theory, shingles would be contagious until the vesicles are scabbed over which is the case with chicken pox. In reality, there are not reports of spread of the herpes varicella zoster virus from people who have shingles like there are when people have chicken pox, which can be spread by respiratory secretions even before erupting in pox. So it should be ok for you to be around the baby and his pregnant mom. Residual nerve pain can unfortunately persist even after the skin is completely clear, but does not indicate contagiousness. If you were able to get on an antiviral within 72 hrs or so of the eruptions, the chances your nerve pain will resolve without issue are very good. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.