Chicken pox and prednisolone

[Gaycreasey]

I'm currently on 8mgs of prednisolone, having come down from 15mgs since diagnosis in November 2016. My 18month old granddaughter has just started coming out with chicken pox and I wondered if anyone knows whether there is a problem with prednisolone and the chicken pox virus

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Hi there. You are generally advised to stay away from people with chickenpox if you can until after they stop being contagious, because your immune system may be suppressed and it may trigger shingles. Sorry!

[Gaycreasey in reply to Polywotsit]

Thanks for your prompt reply Kate. I had shingles about three years ago. Is it likely that would get it again?

[polymy in reply to Gaycreasey]

Hi there. You can have shingles many times so the answer is yes you can catch it again. I would stay clear of your little granddaughter until her infection has gone.

Best wishes Liz.

[Gaycreasey in reply to polymy]

Thanks Liz. Yes, I am staying away from her but this morning I received a little video message on WhatsApp. She's very spotty and looks poorly but did give me a little smile and a wave. I have a cold at the moment and have no voice but managed to send her a short video of Nannie, so we are keeping in touch. It's these little touches that keep you going!!

[polymy in reply to Gaycreasey]

How lovely. Modern technology I'd wonderful for us.

Liz. X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gaycreasey]

You don't catch shingles - when you have chicken pox the virus sometimes remains in the body in an inactive form and hiding in nerve endings in particular places in the body. Something triggers it to wake up and it starts causing symptoms again. It is possible to have shingles without a rash - just the itching and, for some people, the nerve pain which is what lasts so long for some patients. And because it just goes back into hibernation - it can wake up again at a later point.

[YummyBear in reply to Polywotsit]

You cant contract Shingles from being in contact with someone with chickenpox BUT as you've said if your immune system is low, it could possibly trigger Shingles but this would be purely coincidental! Shingles is a ghastly condition, so best to avoid anyone who is suffering an illness if your immunity is compromised.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

Did you realise this post is 5 years old?

[YummyBear in reply to PMRpro]

Oh my Gosh, No, I didnt see that but it's hardly surprising as my vision is distorted, due to errors with cataract surgery. Too long to go into. Long distance people usually have a happy outcome. I have always been shortsighted and only wear distance specs for driving. My lifestyle changed overnight I cant have it changed as it would cause scar tissue issues. Having 2nd opinion next week.

With the old HU blogs, should I not ask a question or advise. The Admin people should put a marker on old blogs to say not to reply after a year or something to that effect

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

It happens a lot - usually because someone found the post in a search but didn't notice the age.

Sometimes you will get a reply from the author of the post - you will always get a reply from DorsetLady and me since we have followed all posts for years so get notified. It is more whether you expect to get a reply - so I always mention the age. But otherwise people don't look at posts from yesterday - never mind last year! I will never say don't reply - someone might see your reply and benefit but realistically ...

You have answered my question about your cataract - so sorry they made a mess.

[YummyBear in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your time and effort, most kind of you. All my texts written today have been corrected as I've made many errors, due to distorted vision. One son said 'mum, you are not blind, be thankful' it's a way of saying stop bleating on about it! I met a pal yesterday and said I wont be giving you the saga about surgery. She was trying to show me pics of her son's wedding; that's when I reaslised my visual life had changed, everything blurred. We walked along High St. and saw a new veggie shop; I couldnt see any prices, my friend said how lucky she was that she was s/sighted and I could have cried, as pre surgery I read tiny print. Kind blessings to you!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

It is why we are here.

Have you contacted the RNIB for advice on coping with the changes and limitations? There are various ways of dealing with the problems you are experiencing but you need advice. There are programes that will read text and type dictated text for you and will help this side of your life at least.

In fact, I think there are portable versions but how successful they are I don't know.

[YummyBear in reply to PMRpro]

No, not thought so doing that, thank you. I have Appt late in day on Tuesday with an Ophthalmic Cons, who is due to retire In Dec 2020 I had a emergency eye issue PVD but my usual Opt whom I was a Pt for 35 years was on leave so I went locally. I was told to rest for 6 weeks. When I went for post check up he said I needed cataract surgery. My opt cons will check everything on Tues and advise.

I could then ring RNIB too.

Many thanks again

[MrsNails in reply to YummyBear]

Hi there’s not much point advising on an old post as it will or should have been resolved by now. Also, it’s better to raise a New Post for a Question as everyone will tell you it’s 5years old or however long it is 😉

[YummyBear in reply to MrsNails]

Yeah, I learned the hard way! As I said in previous text, my eyesight is imbalanced, due to unsuccessful cataract surgery, so am putting it down to that! Thanks for the heads up!

[MrsNails in reply to YummyBear]

I’ve written a Post on Chicken Pox recently - it’s in FAQ’s

[SnazzyD]

Hi,

If you've definitely had chicken pox then it'll already be in your system, lying dormant ready to possibly develop into shingles. You can't catch shingles from chicken pox, but you need to be certain you have had chicken pox before before you go near anyone with it. This might help

nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/...

[SnazzyD]

Hello, your reply wasn't showing on my iPad when I replied. Given the official line (you can't catch shingles from chickenpox, only a first infection), I'm interested to know if you know of cases where someone has had shingles triggered from chicken pox contact. I've seen shingles triggered from the shingles vaccine, so it stands to reason it could, though the mode of entry is not normal and neither are all the adjuvants, compared to natural infection of the virus.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

You need see to doctor, you can get an injection to lessen effects.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Obviously you have had chicken pox. The other question is - have you already had contact with your granddaughter? If you haven't, then keep away from her until all the blisters are crusted over by which time she will no longer be infectious. Problem gone!

The most infectious time is the 24-48 hours BEFORE the first blister appears. Then the level of infectiousness tapers until the last blister scabs over. So, if you were in contact in that period, keep a close eye out for any signs of shingles and go straight to the doctor to get antiviral medication, possibly see them before and get a prescription to cash in if it happens.

There is no point taking antiviral medications before you have any symptoms as they only work on active virus, not dormant which is the status you are in at present. For someone with a very compromised immune system they might give Ig injections - but that is for people who are post organ transplant or having chemotherapy for cancer. They cost a lot and there are only limited stocks so aren't generally used.

But just be aware of symptoms - and of course, if anyone else in the family develops CP from your granddaughter - they will show signs in 14 to 21 days.

[Gaycreasey in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for all your replies. Yes I did see her before the spots appeared and the day before yesterday when she had 2 spots. Today she is apparently covered in them. I rang my GP practice and they advised ringing my pharmacist as she said, 'they have more knowledge'. I will have to wait to see if I have any symptoms for shingles. Many thanks for all your input.

[LJhome in reply to Gaycreasey]

You may need to have a blood test to check that you have enough antibodies as the pred can reduce these. If you do not you can be given VZIG. Go back to your doctor.