MYTH VS. FACT: SHINGLES IS CONTAGIOUS PERSON-TO-PERSON

Shingles1SHINGLES IS CONTAGIOUS FROM PERSON-TO-PERSON.

MYTH!!!!

 

Shingles is reactivated Chicken Pox Virus (Herpes Zoster) from your own body—It comes from within (just like enlightenment!)  You cannot catch Shingles from someone else.

 

Shingles occurs when a nerve in your own body releases Herpes Zoster Virus down it’s length, creating a small patch of skin lesions (pox) occuring in the distribution of that nerve.  These nerves are distributed in the body along lines known as dermatomes, and they will follow this line of distribution as a general rule.  See this DERMATOME MAP >>>HERE<<<.

The skin lesions from Shingles do contain virus particles, but it is difficult to transmit these particles to another person unless they overtly rub the area of shingles-involved skin, and then they would only catch chicken pox is they had never had chicken pox before and were not immune.  This is an unlikely scenario as 99% of adults over 65 are immune to chicken pox.  Only very young children are susceptible to the Herpes Zoster Virus , and even then….is extremely unlikely.

Shingles can be prevented and treated readily.  Read more in THE GUIDE  in the section on Herpes Zoster at   www.doctordougbooks.com

 

 

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