Shingles: Recommendations for Family Members of Patients

     The video above shows that shingles not only affects the individual themselves, but their family members and others around them as well. This post is centered on the family members of patients, or anyone that has close and regular contact with an individual with shingles. 

Preventing the Transmission of Shingles

     When a person with shingles is experiencing an outbreak of rashes, the shingles virus is highly contagious when the sores are weeping.  Avoid direct contact with these sores or blisters in order to prevent contracting the shingles virus.  You do not have to be afraid of an individual when they have shingles! Shingles cannot be spread through cough, sneezing, or casual contact, as noted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

 

Pregnant women who have never had chickenpox
should avoid shingles blisters for the health of themselves
and the fetus

     The following individuals should be extra cautious and avoid close contact with weeping shingles outbreaks:

• Pregnant women, infants, children, or those who have never had chickenpox
• Those that are currently ill
• Those with a suppressed immune system, such as people diagnosed with HIV infection or diabetes

Click here! Talk to your doctor about getting
the chickenpox vaccine

     WebMD emphasizes that the fluid from the blisters can cause chickenpox, but not shingles, in those individuals who have never had chickenpox of who have never gotten the chickenpox vaccine. For those who have never had chickenpox: you can avoid getting chickenpox and later shingles by receiving the chickenpox, or varicella, vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the vaccine, which are about 98% effective at preventing chickenpox for children, adolescents, and adults. 

     If you have already been exposed to the shingles virus without having a prior case of chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, your healthcare provider may decide to administer the chickenpox vaccine to you. The CDC states that you should get the chickenpox vaccine 3 to 5 days after being exposed to the chickenpox virus to prevent developing the virus. 

Here is a helpful graphic to show the most common areas of shingles rash outbreaks.



Remember to avoid touching areas where blisters have not healed!
Click here for more information
 

 

Assisting with Shingles Treatment

Click here to learn about shingles prevention

    Shingles is treated with several different medications. If your loved one is experiencing a shingles outbreak, you can assist their healing process by helping them seek medical attention to obtain their medications. Pain medication, such as over-the-counter acetaminophen, can also be used to alleviate the pain caused by the shingles rash. 

     As stated in the previous blog post, there are many ways to treat shingles at home. Family members and loved ones can help shingles patients with self-care in several ways. Suggestions include providing a cool compress, soothing lotions, and other topical items to aid in pain relief. Family members can also help the patient de-stress and relax by providing them with items that comfort them, such as a book or calming song album. Keeping stress levels low can help a patient recover and take their mind off of the shingles pain. 

     Family members, and those close to a patient with shingles, can play an integral role in the treatment and recovery of shingles. Look at the resources below for more information about shingles transmission, treatment, and prevention! 

References

Common shingles rash sites. (2011, March 18). LIVESTRONG.COM.

Retrieved October 24, 2014, from

http://www.livestrong.com/article/83201-common- shingles-rash-sites/

Prevent shingles. (2014, August 25). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

            Retrieved October 24, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Shingles/

Protecting yourself from shingles | NIH MedlinePlus the magazine. (n.d.). 

U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved October 23, 2014, from

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter10/articles/winter

10pg16-17.html

 Vaccines: VPD-VAC/varicella/getting vaccinated after exposed. (2012, April 5). 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/basic-vacc-after-exposed.htm