Chickenpox and shingles

[Elliot43]

Question: if never had chickenpox do we need to have the shingles vaccine?

Or simple...Can we get shingles if never had chickenpox?

Also can we have a blood test to see if we have had chickenpox if not sure?

For the gurus or anyone else that knows

Sheila in oz

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which stays latent in our nerve cells. So you can't get shingles without first having had chickenpox. Problem is that we may have been misdiagnosed or otherwise be unaware we have had chickenpox.

And yes, you can have a blood test to check if you have been exposed: mayomedicallaboratories.com...

Neil

[Elliot43 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks Neil. That's my thinking too. And because I don't remember having chickenpox as a child and I don't think we have a vaccine for it in the 50s I was wondering if I could find out.. Like via a blood test. Still.. being as there is some controversy with shingrex I might not have to make this decision yet!!

I will ask my Haem next week about testing for CP. as I see him for my now 6 mth visit.

Sheila

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

I am reposting a reply by Dr. Furman on [e-mail]

groups.io/g/CLLSLL/message/...

From: Rick Furman

Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2018 08:35:47 EST

The shingles vaccines are designed specifically for people who have previously had chicken pox. The virus remains dormant inside one's body for life except for when it reactivates as shingles. For people who have not previously had chicken pox, there is a separate vaccine for them. The differences between the two vaccines are probably not significant, and the different indications more a result of how the vaccines were studied. As an aside, almost everyone has had chicken pox virus exposure, even if you don't remember having chicken pox.

Rick Furman, MD

Len

[MartiP2009]

My oncologist told me not to get the shingles vaccine because it’s a live vaccine.

[Justasheet1]

The doctor is correct. No live vaccines for us.

However, the NEW vaccine for shingles is not live. It’s called Shingrix. It is not readily available yet.

Jeff

[Elliot43]

So that means many of us may have been exposed to the cp virus without the symptoms? therefore we may have the dreaded latent shingles lurking within us?

I was interest because the shingles vaccine is offered to seniors as a must vaccine cos we know how awful shingles can be. It made me wondering if OK to give the shingles vaccine if not having had chicken pox?

Sheila

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Elliot43]

Easy, get tested... its called the Varicella Titer Test

Many people have had chickenpox without a noticible reaction as children...

If you have had no exposure to zoster virus then you can not have a shingles reactivation...

~chris

[Ker19]

Good to hear there is a new vaccine around the corner for shingles. So, from the above posts, do I assume we should all be tested first with the Varicella test before going ahead with the shingrix vaccine?

Kerry

[Elliot43]

Yeah Kerry that's what I will ask my docs. I've never heard any of my non cll friends mention that they had to have a blood test to check for CPox virus first before having the shingles vac. and...does it matter if negative anyway?

Oops think I'm replying to myself!!!