Is Shingles Contagious 

Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the same virus that also causes chicken pox. Shingles (also called Herpes zoster) appears as a fiery red rash, in the shape of a band or girdle, on one part of the body. It is most commonly seen in the elderly (above the age of 50) and causes severe pain in the nerve cells. 

Shingles is contagious for those people who have not had chicken pox previously. A person with shingles cannot pass on shingles to a healthy individual, but can give them chicken pox. The same virus that causes chicken pox causes shingles, the virus never leaves the body but lies dormant for many years. When the immune system is weakened the virus gets reactivated again and causes a shingles infection. So you can only get shingles from the virus present in your own body. However since it is the same virus that causes chicken pox, you can pass on a chicken pos infection to a healthy individual. In such cases, transmission happens during the active phase when blisters have erupted but have not formed dry crusts. A person with shingles cannot transmit the virus by breathing or coughing. Shingles cannot be triggered by contact with someone who has chickenpox.
A person usually gets only one attack of chicken pox and shingles in their lifetime. 
Is shingles contagious? 

A frequently asked question for which our team at www.Shingleshelpline.com