Can You Get Shingles If You Haven't Had Chickenpox?

[lindapalmara]

My Mother is convinced she has shingles but has never had Chickenpox. I always understood you needed to have had Chickenpox to get shingles.

[andy-hughes]

It may be that she carries the chickenpox virus, but it never developed - that would leave her open to an attack of shingles in later life.

[Canary42]

Forget the old wives' taes - get her to a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

[Canary42]

*tales

[Peter Pedant]

well no you shouldnt - you should kick off with chicken pox

however I think what happens is that the chickenpox was just a pock - it can be very mild in children and er she didnt notice

[ My mother was diagnosed with rheumatic heart valve disease at age 85 and commented - "Oh there was a time in India, 1925 when i spent a year in bed (!!) and no one knew what was wrong with me...." which presumably was her under-diagnosed rheumatic fever ]

[Sqad]

You can't get shingles if you have never had chicken pox.......PP is correct.

P.S How did they know the cause of your mother's heart problem was ..........."rheumatic.?"

[Sqad]

Ooops! one more thing..........you can't "catch" shingles.

[Sqad]

PP...Don't bother to answer my question re your mother's heart disease, the answer is clear (after some thought)........sorry.

[lindapalmara]

Thanks all

[EDDIE51]

Yes , Chickenpox can be so mild you do not realise you have had it. Just a slightly raised temperature for a day or two that is put down to something else.