Brief Answer:
No risk of shingles flare up from your partner

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Shingles is caused by reactivation of varicella virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles usually affects the elderly population but might affect at any age especially at times of stress and in those with reduced immunity.

What happens is during chicken pox, the virus enters the dorsal ganglion of the nerves arising from the spinal cord and then become dormant or inactive. Many years later, these viruses reactivate and affect the nerves of a particular area and usually only on a single side.

Usually a person gets only one attack of shingles but 1 in 20 people can get two or three attacks of shingles. There is intense burning in the area followed by rashes and blisters which show up after about a week to 10 days later.

At first the rashes must be examined by a doctor and confirmed to be Shingles and then antiviral medications like acyclovir or valacyclovir at recommended doses must be started within 72 hours from appearance of rashes. These medications are to be taken for 5 days under doctors supervision.

The rashes should be treated with calamine lotion and that will help soothe the itching. Since you have already had shingles, there is no risk of transmission of the virus to you. However the blisters should not be disturbed and they will dry up in about 10 days. The fluid in blisters usually dry on their own. The fluid from blisters is infective to those who never had chicken pox or singles.

Your tingling sensation on the face might be due to post herpetic neuralgia and this can persist for months to years. There is no risk of any flare up due to shingles in your partner.

Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

---