Question 1

is shingles contagious?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Its a reactivation of the chicken pox virus. Until all the vesicles have crusted over, you can give it to anyone who hasn't had chicken pox or the vaccine. Avoid exposure to young kids, pegnant, elderly, frail, or folks with lowered immune systems.

Question 2

r shingles contagious ?

Accepted Answer

Yes, circumstantial: You can't catch shingles from someone else who has shingles. But there is a small chance that a person with a shingles rash can spread the virus to another person who hasn't had chickenpox and who hasn't gotten the chickenpox vaccine.

Question 3

how contagious is shingles?

Accepted Answer

Very, sort of.: When a person has chicken pox they never completely get rid of the virus.  It hides in nerve cells.  As immunity falls over time the virus can reactivate, travel to the skin and causes shingles.  If you have never had, or been vaccinated for, chicken pox you could catch chicken pox from someone with shingles.  Shingles exposure is also dangerous for pregnant women and the immune suppressed.

Question 4

is it true that shingles contagious?

Accepted Answer

Yes: They are contagious in the vesicle stage.  Avoid contact with other people at this time. Do not pick them, let them heal and seek help at the earliest sign.

Question 5

how long is shingles contagious for?

Accepted Answer

1—2 weeks: It is contagious until scabs are totally dry, but requires direct contact

Question 6

are shingles contagious at all times?

Accepted Answer

Yes: But not by droplets the way chicken pox  is tramsmitted.  If you touch th fluid from one of the shingles then get it in a cut or eye, mouth. Or nose and you have never had chicken pox then you could catch actual chicken pox.

Question 7

when does shingles become contagious?

Accepted Answer

When skin is broken: Shingles skin lesions have contagious viruses from the time the skin lesions begin to break (feel damp or sticky) until after the skin is healing, covered with dry scabs or dry skin. If there is any moisture coming through the shingles rash, then one can safely presume there are still viruses there.

Question 8

is shingles contagious and how is it treated?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by contact: Chicken pox and shingles are due to the same virus (the zoster virus). If a person has no good immunity to the zoster virus (never caught chicken pox, is immunosuppressed, never got the vaccine, or got the vaccine but didn't make enough antibodies) then he can get a case of chicken pox from the virus in the open, moist skin lesions of the shingles patient. Treatment of shingles is with antivirals.

Question 9

is my shingles still contagious after a week?

Accepted Answer

Shingles: It is contagious until all blisters dry up and crust over. Typically, this takes 10-14 days.

Question 10

my question. is the shingles is it contagious?

Accepted Answer

Shingles: If the shingles are in the stage of blisters, then it contagious for individuals that have not been exposed to the virus.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Shingles contagious or not

A member asked:

Is shingles contagious?

A member asked:

R shingles contagious ?

A member asked:

How contagious is shingles?

A member asked:

Is it true that shingles contagious?

A member asked:

How long is shingles contagious for?

A member asked:

Are shingles contagious at all times?

A member asked:

When does shingles become contagious?

A member asked:

Is shingles contagious and how is it treated?

A member asked:

Is my shingles still contagious after a week?

A member asked:

My question. is the shingles is it contagious?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?