Shingles are contagious for kids

Shingles are contagious for kids, but most children will not suffer from the virus in the original form. Both shingles and chicken pox are caused by the Varicella strain of the herpes virus. But the first contamination almost always takes the milder form of chicken pox, meaning most young folks will remain safe from the harsher version of the illness for quite some time.

Shingles are a rash caused by a reappearance of the herpes zoster virus. The virus mostly presents in a burning, itching rash; though occasionally a rash never develops. Oftentimes the area affected by the rash is sensitive to the touch. Blisters form along the path of nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. Due to the this, the rash often takes the form of band like strips. The blisters grow and then burst, weeping puss and eventually crusting over. After the pustules begin to scab, they are no longer contagious. Outbreaks of the virus can last a few weeks from beginning to end.

Usually an individual is infected as a child, and then the disease lies dormant in the nervous system. Sometimes in periods of severe stress, or immunodeficiency, the Varicella virus will reappear. Often though, the illness occurs without any indication. Everyone with a the inactive Varicella strain is at risk, but the virus mostly presents in the elderly.

Shingles are, unfortunately, contagious. The virus can spread from an infected person to another adult or child who has yet to be exposed to the Varicella strain in any form. Usually if this is the case, however, the disease will present as chicken pox. In addition, the shingles form of herpes zoster requires direct contact between the blistery rash and the unexposed personage.

Generally, children are rarely afflicted with shingles. Almost everyone will contract Varicella zoster in their youth, but the first exposure almost always takes the comparatively mild form of chicken pox. So, though shingles are contagious for kids, the risk of your child suffering from that type of herpes is unlikely. However, it is still important to keep the risk of shingles to a minimum — the last thing any parent wants is to suffer from this disease while trying to care for a family!