Can By Baby Catch Shingles?

[Chasingcars]

Having mum and baby group bbq saturday, one of the mums has now said her eldest who is 4 years old has shingles. ( she had chicken pox when baby)
She has said she wont come to the bbq if we would rather her not but could the rest of the babies catch it??

[pixie373]

They could catch chicken pox from shingles- not necessarily a bad thing with children. They won't catch shingles.

[ferlew]

A lot of young mums throw chickenpox parties, so all the kiddies get it together, then it's done with.

[Chasingcars]

Thanks Pixie, my initial thought if they can catch anything I would rather not put us in that situation. May sound selfish but we have had a stressful few weeks recently and not sure up i can deal with a little one with Chicken
Pox too! Whats the difference between shingles and chicken pox?

[Mamyalynne]

You would really only need to be cautious if the baby or babies present are newborns.

[Buenchico]

Confirmation of Pixie's answer can be found in the box headed 'Is shingles contagious?' (below the video) here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Shingles/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[Buenchico]

Info about chickenpox can be found here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Introduction.aspx

In practice, chickenpox is usually 'no big deal' for most kids. (They don't look great and they might itch and scratch a lot but most kids can play normally and happily with the disease). Shingles can be extremely painful and debilitating, meaning that some adults who get it have to take several weeks off work, feeling extremely poorly. Alternatively it can just lead to a rather nice tingly feeling, akin to having just used a 'heat rub', on the affected parts. (I rather enjoyed having it!)

[Chasingcars]

Thanks all, all the babies are more toddlers now between 18-20 months. Will take a look at link thankyou x

[New Judge]

It is very unusual for a child to develop shingles. It is caused by the chicken pox virus laying dormant (in the nerves in the spine, I think). Usually at a younger age the immune system keeps the virus in check but in later life when the effectiveness of the immune system is reduced shingles can break out. So you cannot catch shingles from somebody else and you can only develop it if you have had chicken pox.

The condition is considerably different to chicken pox. It is usually restricted to one side of the body and usually manifests itself by itchy sores developing on the skin. These can be extremely irritable and may leave scars.

[Chasingcars]

Didnt think about me and other adults...i had chicken pox as a baby but i could catch shingles then? Not great in this current heat wave!

[woofgang]

CC, you would get shingles from your own virus lying dormant in your body, not from someone else.

[Chasingcars]

So how would i politely say to my friend id rather not risk it?! Think ive confused myself on what i can and cant catch! X

[woofgang]

ok. Shingles is not contagious.
You cannot catch shingles.
Shingles comes from a virus left in a nerve root from when you had chicken pox.
Standard advice says that shingles sufferers can go about as normal provided that the affected areas are covered.
Shingles sufferers can give others chicken pox if they haven't already had it.....on the other hand kids can catch it at school or playgroup or casually on the bus or in the playground.

I a slightly surprised that the toddler would be up for an outing as it can be very painful and debilitating

[Brinjal]

The thought now is vaccinate against chicken pox as as you now see that it can lead to complications later in life. Chicken pox parties are not to be recommended. Just saying. As to whether shingles are contagious the question has been answered.

[Mosaic]

Chickne pox isn't always simple and not troublesome for kids - my eldest was absolutely rotten with it as a five-year-old, with huge blisters and really very ill. The second one developed it a week later and just ran about gurgling and laughing, so it goes to show.

[Sqad]

The post of New Judge is right "on the money."

The 4 year old is extremely unlikely to have shingles and almost certainly suffering from ....chicken pox.

[woofgang]

Sqad, the Op said that the 4 yo had chicken pox as a baby, therefore although shingles is rare in kids, in this case its possible.

[Mamyalynne]

My daughter had shingles at seven years old , the GP said it was the first childhood case he had seen in 20 years - so uncommon but it happens.

[Chasingcars]

To complicate things further, the mum with the 4 year old also has an 18 month year old ....and the 18 month year old hasnt had chicken pox. Therefore her 18 month year old may have caught chicken pox now but we may not know for 2 weeks ( i think thats how long it takes to appear?) so am I right in saying the 18 month year old could be contagious and therefore she could give chicken pox to the rest of the group even if they didnt get chicken pox from the 4 year old with shingles?

[Sqad]

woofy/mamy

It was "diagnosed " as chickenpox as a baby.........? maybe....maybe not.

Shingles is rare in young children........not impossible.........but rare.

[Sqad]

\\\\\ so am I right in saying the 18 month year old could be contagious and therefore she could give chicken pox to the rest of the group even if they didnt get chicken pox from the 4 year old with shingles?\\

Yes.....you are perfectly correct.