Can a toddler be around someone with shingles?
While you’re waiting for the outbreak to end, if you have children or grandchildren you may be asking yourself, “Is shingles contagious to kids and babies?” The answer is no, you can’t give them — or other adults — shingles.
Can I spread shingles to my child?
Newborn babies, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and anyone who is not immune to chickenpox should avoid close contact with anyone who has shingles until the rash is gone.
How does a toddler get shingles?
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. When your child has chickenpox, the virus gets into the nerve roots and stays there (becomes dormant) long after he or she gets over the chickenpox. If the virus becomes active again, it can cause shingles.
When are you not contagious with shingles?
If you have shingles, you are contagious until the last blister has scabbed over. This will usually occur after about 10 to 14 days.
Is someone with shingles contagious?
“Shingles is indeed contagious, but it can only be spread to people who haven’t yet had chickenpox, or the chickenpox vaccine. In these cases, the shingles virus typically spreads via direct contact with the opened blisters of your rash.
Can shingles be spread from person to person?
The virus is spread through direct contact with the rash or through breathing in virus particles that get mixed in the air. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person is not infectious before blisters appear or if pain persists after the rash is gone (post-herpetic neuralgia).
Is shingles only contagious by touch?
It’s possible to transmit this virus to others who aren’t immune while the shingles rash is still active. You are contagious to others until all areas of the rash are dried up and crusted over. To catch the varicella-zoster virus from you, a person has to have direct contact with your rash blisters.