INFECTIONS & WG

[mandijt]

I have WG and currently taking azathioprine, mmf & pred - how prone to infections will i be? I've had chicken pox (as have my children) but the advice is to keep away from those with it - is this incase i havent had it?

[Jann]

I so have had chickpox but I am not sure how effective our system remains after we have had treatement for WG. I too was warned to stay way from chicken pox and shingles. I have chosen stayed away from any major infection not just chicken pox but we do know about most of the infections around us.

Chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the same virus.

In some people, after they’ve had chickenpox, the virus can become active again and cause shingles. You cannot catch shingles from someone else.

If you’re not immune to the chicken pox virus , it’s possible to catch chickenpox from someone with shingles. However, this risk is very small.

Not very helpful but I would stay clear of people with either condition.

[PatriciaAnn]

Hi Mandijt

Taking any immuno-suppressant reduces the ability of your body to fight infection. You may have had chicken pox but the virus can lay dormant in your body for years and if triggered can result in shingles - something you most certainly don't want. Something certainly activated my shingles but I don't know exactly what.

I don't know anything about the processes which could activate the virus to cause shingles or whether being exposed to someone with chicken-pox could cause this activation. Jann seems to have more knowledge than I do. Maybe Martin or John can elaborate even further.

Like Jann I would err on the side of caution and keep such infected persons, just like anyone with any sort of infection, at more than arms length.

PatriciaAnn

[mandijt]

sounds live very good advice to me!

thanks, for the input.

mandi

[Griff53]

I have recently been in contact with my grandchildren who then got chicken-pox...

My consultant took no chances and got me in for an injection.. Apparently you have to have it within 9days of any exposure to chicken pox.. He also said that although I had had chicken pox as a child I could still get shingles..

Dave

[Tony-LakeDistrict]

When shingles made itself painfully known 4 years ago , "strangely during a consultation with my specialist”. he said that after having chicken pox, the virus can lay dormant in your body & taking an immune suppressant can be the sole trigger for shingles.

I still have it, but now it is just an annoyance.

Best of luck

Tony