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Q.

Is shingles contagious?

Related Topics: Shingles
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A.

Shingles is contagious and can be spread from an affected person to babies, children, or adults who have not had chickenpox. But instead of developing shingles, these people develop chickenpox. Once they have had chickenpox, people cannot catch shingles (or contract the virus) from someone else. Once infected, however, people have the potential to develop shingles later in life.

Shingles is contagious to people who have not previously had chickenpox, as long as there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing. Similar to chickenpox, the time prior to healing or crusting of the blisters is the contagious stage of shingles. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread and the contagious period is over.

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I have a mild case of shingles because I rec'd the Shingles shot.  I have very few small pimple like breakout but nothing ozzing or breaking.  I still have some red, very small pimple like symtoms that have been there for a week.  I feel burning around my back but nothing shows up and it has been sensitive for about three weeks.  Am I still contagious.  How contagious am I? If I am covered and not in someone;'s face can they still contact chicken pox from me.

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