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What Does Shingles Look Like?
Warning
Warning: Potentially graphic imagery ahead
What is shingles?
Shingles is a contagious viral infection that is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
When is shingles contagious?
Once the rash appears and the blisters start forming, the virus becomes contagious.
How long is shingles contagious?
Painful blisters appear in a band along a nerve distribution on one side of the body. These blisters eventually break open and ooze fluid. This lasts about five to seven days. As the nerves are irritated where the rash occurs, the pain can be intense. While the blisters are in the formation stage, and until all the blisters have crusted over, the person is contagious and can spread the virus.
How to prevent spreading shingles
Painful blisters appear in a band along a nerve distribution on one side of the body. These blisters eventually break open and ooze fluid. This lasts about five to seven days. As the nerves are irritated where the rash occurs, the pain can be intense. While the blisters are in the formation stage, and until all the blisters have crusted over, the person is contagious and can spread the virus.
If you have shingles, you should avoid
If you have contracted shingles you should avoid contact with: pregnant women who have not had chickenpox, as this could affect the development of the unborn child
people with a suppressed immune system, babies less than a month old, unless you are the biological mother, since your baby will already have antibodies to counter the shingles virus.
people with a suppressed immune system, babies less than a month old, unless you are the biological mother, since your baby will already have antibodies to counter the shingles virus.
