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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Are Shingles Rashes Contagious?

I was just diagnosed with shingles and have a rash on my torso. Just started antivirus medicine this afternoon.I was planning to visit my elderly mother (86) next Saturday but very concerned she may catch this. She thinks she had chickenpox but unsure. Should I cancel?
Mon, 7 Jul 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
You are a patient of shingles and your mother had chicken pox .
Note down this and read carefully.
In shingles in the normal host, lesions may remain few in number and continue to form only for a period of 3 to 5 days .
The total duration of disease is generally between 7 and 10 days ; however it may take as long as 2 to 4 weeks for the skin to return to normal.
When any patient who had chicken pox may get this disease from infected person ( as you may spread this to your mother ).
Varicella-Zoster virus infections have tow types .
1 VARICELLA ( CHICKENPOX IN CHILDREN ).
2 Herpes Zoster ( shingles in adults ).
So chickenpox infected person may get infection very rapidly .
In my opinion at least you should remain away from your mother for 4 weeks .
Good luck.
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Are Shingles Rashes Contagious?

Hello You are a patient of shingles and your mother had chicken pox . Note down this and read carefully. In shingles in the normal host, lesions may remain few in number and continue to form only for a period of 3 to 5 days . The total duration of disease is generally between 7 and 10 days ; however it may take as long as 2 to 4 weeks for the skin to return to normal. When any patient who had chicken pox may get this disease from infected person ( as you may spread this to your mother ). Varicella-Zoster virus infections have tow types . 1 VARICELLA ( CHICKENPOX IN CHILDREN ). 2 Herpes Zoster ( shingles in adults ). So chickenpox infected person may get infection very rapidly . In my opinion at least you should remain away from your mother for 4 weeks . Good luck.