Actually, herpes zoster is contagious and can be contracted by contact and it is also airborne.
I have had it numerous times in my facial nerve.....a couple of times I knew of direct exposure within a period of time prior to contracting it. In one case I was caring for a patient with numerous issues, shingles being one. He was on wound and skin precautions and not respiratory....and I did get it within a couple of weeks. After a bit of research I found out that it is indeed airborne! Many people are not aware of the fact that it is airborne. When someone tells me that they have shingles or chickenpox, I avoid them. It is a nasty virus and yes, it is very painful. Thankfully, the first time I had it I went to a doctor who knew how to treat it and also knew to tell me how to avoid it in the future (although that actually has not worked out well). I have very little residual nerve damage due to having been treated immediately with steroids each time. That inflammation in the nerve must be treated in Bell's Palsy or the nerve is permanently damaged.
People who are susceptible to zoster can contract it from someone who has it. |