Yes and no. A person with shingles does not directly transmit the disease. On the other hand, if you have never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated against it, contact with the fluid in the blisters can lead to a first infection… in the form of chickenpox. The virus can then remain latent in the body, putting you at risk of developing shingles. Therefore, increased caution is necessary, especially in people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and infants.
How to relieve symptoms and treat herpes zoster?
Treatment is based primarily on early intervention. Consult a doctor at the first symptoms. Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or valacyclovir are most effective if administered within the first 72 hours. Treatment can be supplemented by:
Painkillers to relieve pain
Cold compresses, oatmeal baths, or calamine lotion to relieve itching
Rest and hydrate well.
Complication to watch out for: postherpetic neuralgia
In about one in ten people, shingles can cause chronic pain called postherpetic neuralgia. Even after the skin lesions have gone, the pain can last for months or even years. This complication is more common in older people and can seriously affect quality of life, causing: sleep disturbances, social isolation, limitations in daily activities, etc.
