Why does the disease develop in some, not in others? How does it travel from one person to the next? These are just some of the questions you may need answered if you or someone you know have been exposed to shingles.
What causes shingles?
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox, which is usually a childhood disease. After a person has had chicken pox, varicella zoster remains in the body in a deactivated form. When the virus is reactivated, shingles results.
Why don't all people who have had chicken pox develop shingles?
This is a good question and the answer usually lies within the immune system. Certain demographics have a greater risk of contracting shingles simply because of compromised immunity.
Older adults are generally more at risk for shingles, but children can also develop shingles. It also believed that people who were given the chicken pox vaccine can develop shingles, since the vaccine contains an inactive form of a varicella virus.
How does shingles travel from one person to the next?
Shingles, herpes simplex, chicken pox are similar in that they all are caused by a herpesvirus. Chicken pox and herpes simplex are highly contagious and usually transmitted through physical contact. Shingles is different from its cousins because you can't "catch" it.
The only real risk the disease poses to people who either don't, or haven't already had it, is the possibility of chicken pox infection. That risk is generally a non-issue if chicken pox was contracted as a child. If you're going to be around someone who has shingles, and you've never had chicken pox before, ask that they cover lesions with cotton dressings.
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