Chicken Pox

[LesJames]

Hello, I have just discovered my wife has chicken pox. What precautions should I take. I have had them and also Shingles. I am on MTX and steroids.

[Manofmendip]

Hi Les

Remind me you have APS/Hughes Syndrome?

We cannot provide you with medical advice, I'm afraid, as we are not medically trained.

Other members may have personal experiences that they could share with you.

Dave

[LesJames in reply to Manofmendip]

Hi Dave Yes I have APS/Hughes Syndrome, as well as a multitude of other auto immune issues.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi there as you had chickenpox and shingles you should be ok, although in rare cases you can get chicken pox twice, but this is very rare. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

MaryF

[LesJames in reply to MaryF]

Thank you.

[GinaD]

Yeah, your recent ( I assume its recent, as in within past 5 -10 years) bout of shingles should mean you are immune to that virus. I got the shingles shot a few years ago as I nearly died of chicken pox when I was 5. So, therefore, I probably have tons of that dormant virus just waiting for its chance to rouse and attack. ( In this case, I'm hoping my immune system stays hyper-vigilant. usually I'm wishing my immune system would calm down and go to sleep.😀)

[WendyWoo50]

Hi, I hope ur wife is ok. And u r staying well.

There is always a lot of confusion about shingles and chicken pox so...

Firstly chicken pox is caused by a virus called Vericella Herpes Zoster. Once one has had it it is impossible for the body to get rid of it completely and so it lies dormant in the dorsal nerve endings - at the base of the spine. The virus can be activated in the future by stress or when run down. ( including when on immunosuppressants eg Azothioprine and prednisone) this is totally unrelated to 'catching it' from someone

Once activated it follows a line of nerves searching for an exit, which it finds through the tiny nerve endings on the surface of the skin. The result is puss filled itchy shingles. Because the puss is the virus one can catch chicken pox from it (if you haven't had it already) but because shingles is activated by stress or when you are run down one can't catch it (in the form of chicken pox or shingles).

I would avoid contact with the shingles until they are ALL scabbed If u need to apply creams use gloves and wash hands It is unlikely but on rare occasions those who are immunosuppressed may find that their body 'forgets' it has had and dealt with the virus previously - because the immune system takes longer to identify the virus you can have a mild form of chicken pox if you have direct contact with the puss, mild because once the immune system 'remembers' it has already been exposed to the virus, it deals with it quickly.

In the day it's easy but it could be best to sleep in separate beds and for ur wife to keep them covered perhaps? until they scab she could sit on a sheet so as not to leave the the virus on furnature for you to pick up

I hope this helps good luck stay well 💋

Ask if u need more advice x