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How Infectious Is Herpes Zoster?
Question: My Wife got herpes Zoster. We came to know After four days of rash. She has on Antiviral for course of 7 days.. As I have never history of Chicken pox in my life. Whether there is change of chicken pox. On sixth I get vaccinated my self and also started homepathic medicnes ( Mercurius Solubillis) to prevent same.Whether this prevent same if i am exposed.
Also in case if it comes what is severity?
After how much period i can consider my self same?
Also in case if it comes what is severity?
After how much period i can consider my self same?
Brief Answer:
Zoster is not very infectious;vaccination prevents Or reduce severity
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have taken note of your query and I have understood it.
Shingles/ Herpes Zoster is not very infectious. The chances of acquiring the virus from a person with shingles are therefore less.
The virus can spread through direct contact with fluid from the fluid filled lesions that occur in shingles.
A person with active shingles can spread the virus only when the rash is in the blister-phase.
A person is not infectious before the blisters appear and once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no again longer contagious.
In those who have never had chicken pox, ideally, the vaccine should be given within 3 to 5 days after the person is exposed. This may either prevent chicken pox or make it less severe.
However even if it has been more than 5 days, the vaccine should still be offered in those who have been exposed.
This would nevertheless provide protection against chicken pox if a person is exposed again in the future.
I am not sure how effective homeopathic medicine would be in preventing chicken pox.
The incubation period for chicken pox has a range from 10-21 days therefore if you don't develop a rash for 3 weeks after your wife's lesions have healed that suggests that you would not develop it.
Regards
Zoster is not very infectious;vaccination prevents Or reduce severity
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have taken note of your query and I have understood it.
Shingles/ Herpes Zoster is not very infectious. The chances of acquiring the virus from a person with shingles are therefore less.
The virus can spread through direct contact with fluid from the fluid filled lesions that occur in shingles.
A person with active shingles can spread the virus only when the rash is in the blister-phase.
A person is not infectious before the blisters appear and once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no again longer contagious.
In those who have never had chicken pox, ideally, the vaccine should be given within 3 to 5 days after the person is exposed. This may either prevent chicken pox or make it less severe.
However even if it has been more than 5 days, the vaccine should still be offered in those who have been exposed.
This would nevertheless provide protection against chicken pox if a person is exposed again in the future.
I am not sure how effective homeopathic medicine would be in preventing chicken pox.
The incubation period for chicken pox has a range from 10-21 days therefore if you don't develop a rash for 3 weeks after your wife's lesions have healed that suggests that you would not develop it.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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