Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a neurological condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. If you have previously had chickenpox, you are at risk of developing shingles later in life as the varicella-zoster virus can reactivate. While shingles can be contagious, it is crucial for individuals with an ongoing infection to take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.
Transmission of Shingles: From Person to Person
Transmission of the shingles virus can occur from a person with shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox. When shingles is in its active phase, it causes the formation of painful blisters on the skin, which contain the live virus. If an uninfected individual comes into contact with the fluid from these blisters, they can contract the virus and develop chickenpox.
However, it is important to note that transmission of shingles from one person to another with shingles is not possible. The virus can only be spread from a person with active shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox. Consequently, the individual who has never been infected with the virus before will develop chickenpox, not shingles.
How Long is the Shingles Transmission Period?
The transmission period of shingles can vary, but it is important to note that a person with shingles is not contagious for the entire duration of the infection. Contagion only occurs when the infected individual has active blisters on their skin, and it is limited to individuals who have never had the virus before.
During the early stages of shingles, the infected person may experience pain, but blisters have not yet formed, making them non-contagious. Similarly, as the disease progresses and nears its end, the blisters will scab over completely, rendering them non-contagious as well.