Herpes Zoster: How do You Avoid Passing it on?

Posted April 16th, 2004 by jack

Herpes Zoster

Let's put it simply: You can't. Varicella Herpes Zoster, which is the
full Latin name for this virus, spreads via the humidity in the air and
mainly spreads during the incubation period, which is just before an
outbreak of chickenpox. The virus will normally be caught from
children about to have chickenpox.

Luckily, the virus only spreads in the incubation period and in the
very beginning of the outbreak of chickenpox. Once you've had
chickenpox, you don't get it again and you don't pass on the virus
either. The virus will however still remain in your body, for life,
but in most people it remains latent. For some of course, it will reoccur as shingles.

Chickenpox

The symptoms of chickenpox are a rash that turns into blisters and
then into a dry scab. These may be all over the body and you
will probably also feel generally ill, with fever, headaches and
general tiredness. If the rash is painful it is recommended that you
takes painkillers, use a local anesthetic cream and / or anti itch
cream.

Chickenpox is not usually treated as it rarely has any complications
and will pass on its own. Children can get a chickenpox vaccine which is recommended in most countries. The vaccine will not
protect against chickenpox 100% but it will reduce the risk
considerably.

Shingles - In Older Adults

In later life some adults (1 in 5) who had chickenpox as a
child may experience an outbreak of shingles.
Shingles is not contagious and you can't catch it or pass it on.
It is an activation of the Herpes Zoster virus already
present in your body. Shingles should be treated with
antiviral medicine such as:

which are all available as prescription drugs. The shingles
symptoms are similar to chickenpox and if you experience pain
from the blisters it is recommended that you take painkillers,
use a local anesthetic cream or anti itch cream.

To sum up, you can't really prevent passing on the
Herpes Zoster virus because you probably won't know that
you have it. The chickenpox vaccine will reduce the risk of
an outbreak though.

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Herpes Doctor