Herpes zoster can be contagious, especially for people who have never had contact with the virus responsible for the disease, which also causes chickenpox.
In other words, if the person has never had contact with the chickenpox virus and/or has not been vaccinated and has come into direct contact with the lesions that appear on the skin or with its secretions, it is possible that there is transmission and development of the disease.
However, those who have already had chickenpox or were vaccinated during childhood may not be infected, as the body produces antibodies against a new infection. Learn more about herpes zoster.
How do you catch the herpes zoster virus?
The risk of passing on the herpes zoster virus is greater when there are still blisters on the skin, as the virus is found in the secretions released by the wounds. Thus, it is possible to catch the virus when:
- Touch wounds or released secretions;
- Wear clothes that were worn by someone infected;
- Use a bath towel or other objects that have come into direct contact with the skin of someone who is infected.
Therefore, anyone who has shingles should take some precautions to avoid passing on the virus, especially if there is someone close to them who has never had chickenpox. Some of these precautions include washing your hands regularly, avoiding scratching blisters, covering skin lesions and never sharing objects that have been in direct contact with the skin.
Read too: Herpes: what it is, symptoms, types, transmission and treatment
Who is most at risk of catching the virus
The risk is higher in people who have never had chickenpox or who have never been vaccinated against chickenpox. Furthermore, if you have already been infected by the virus, herpes zoster can manifest itself more easily in people over 60 years of age, who have a more compromised immune system due to illness, treatment or prolonged use of medications, such as corticosteroids.
What happens when the virus is transmitted
When the virus passes to another person, it does not cause shingles, but chickenpox. Herpes zoster only appears in those who have previously had chickenpox or have had an episode of herpes zoster, this is because the virus remains “dormant” in the body, that is, it cannot be eliminated, becoming activated again and leading to the appearance of symptoms. characteristic of the disease when the immune system is more weakened.
