Shingles How Long Am I Infectious? Friend With Sarcoidosis And Meeting Up

[gordiescotland1]

Hi there I have had shingles in my eye. The pain started 12 days ago. The rash came out 8 days ago was prescribed drops containing the antiviral. I saw the consultant as a follow-up yesterday who said I don't need the drops anymore and my eyes are a lot better. I have asked a friend to meet me for coffee he has had chickenpox as a child but has an autoimmune disease sarcoidosis affecting his heart liver etc he goes on a drip every 3 months for a day. He is OK with meeting me if I am
not infectious?? Any idea if I am

[Bobbisox1]

6-7 weeks Gordie

[Peter Pedant]

he has had chickenpox, so it is OK.

you are infectious for anyone who has NOT had chickenpox until the scabs fall off

[Schlomo78]

You can still catch shingles if you have had chickenpox, especially if immunocompromised, and over the age of 50 you are more vulnerable.

[Schlomo78]

I have seen this several times, best to be safe, I would say.https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/adult-exposure-to-chickenpox-linked-to-lower-risk-of-shingles/

[Schlomo78]

Just to mention, also, I know people who have had chicken pox twice, and then shingles later on in life.

[rowanwitch]

You can't develop shingles unless you have had chicken pox, you can't catch shingles but you can catch chicken pox and someone with a compromised immune system could catch chicken pox for a second time. But only by contact with the open spots the shingles causes. If you really want to meet up be aware you should keep a safe distance but I would personally keep away until the spots are fully healed.

[Sqad]

Good answer by rowanwitch ^^^
Personally, I would meet up with your friend but avoid direct contact.

No snogging or kissing -;)

[rowanwitch]

Thanks Sqadxxxxxx

[gordiescotland1]

My friend decided not to meet me just to be on the safe side. I fully understood.

[Sqad]

That's fine geordie, feedback appreciated.

[Peter Pedant]

connection between shingles and your own chickenpox described by my father's senior partner ( GP) incredz

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1898279/

mad edgar hope-simpson famous

[Sqad]

PP Nice to see a bit of research done by a GP and published in a reputable publication.

[Peter Pedant]

big thing in 1965
much quoted along with Pickles and Tudor Hart

[Peter Pedant]

mad..... made him famous

was mad of course. Made a oartner by Lake after training at Dorchester, as Lake wanted to hunt (!) every Saturday and Hope Simpson was low church and didnt agree with it ( so was ready to cover). This was the thirties
1939 consciously ( ! !) registered as a conscientious objector altho he cd easily have applied to the man power committee to be classed as in a reserved occupation ( no war service).
and his patients in his first practice, didnt like it. ( not cirencester) so out he went ! ! - foorties, pre NHS
yes I hve a very long memory