Shingles exposure during pregnancy
Every so often we get a question from a pregnant woman who is concerned because someone in her family (usually a parent or in-law) has shingles. She is worried that she may be at-risk to develop this as well. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox– the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Once you have had chickenpox, this virus continues to live dormant, inside your body. Sometimes, under conditions of stress or when the immune system is weakened, the virus can be reactivated. When this happens the virus does not cause chickenpox but shingles.
Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles, even children. But about half of all cases actually occur among people 60 years old or older. There is now a vaccine available for people over age 60 to prevent shingles.
Shingles can only be spread by an affected person to someone who has NOT had chickenpox. If this happens, the exposed person will develop chickenpox—not shingles. Once you have had chickenpox, antibodies are in your system and you cannot get it again from someone else. But you will have the potential to develop shingles later in life.
If you are pregnant, do you need to worry about shingles? Not if you have already had chickenpox or had the vaccine. Your antibodies will prevent the virus from multiplying in your body.
However, if you are not immune to the virus and you are exposed to someone who has shingles there is a very small chance that you could develop chickenpox. Shingles is not spread through the air and infection can only occur after direct contact with the rash when it is in the blister-phase. A person with shingles is not contagious before the blisters appear or after they scab over.
If you have been exposed to someone with shingles, and you have not had chickenpox or the vaccine, make sure you talk to your health care provider. Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.
If you have had chickenpox, it is possible to develop shingles during pregnancy. Although this is unlikely, make sure you seek treatment right away. The most common symptom is a painful rash on one side of the face or body. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in 7–10 days and clear up within 2–4 weeks. There is often pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop.
Shingles can be quite painful but treatments with antiviral medications are available. These can lessen the severity and reduce the discomforts. Fortunately shingles in pregnancy is rare. And, for women who do develop shingles during pregnancy, the prognosis is good.
Tags: antiviral medications, chicken pox, shingles, vaccine, varicella
October 5th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Thank you for all this information, that is something we usually don’t know. Thank god I’ve had chickenpox in the past and won’t have to deal with that during pregnancy. And actually now I know why I’ve also had shingles in the past.
October 9th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Thanks so much for you comment. Glad that you found it helpful!
October 11th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Oh gosh now I’m scared because I haven’t had chickenpox and now in 24 weeks pregnant, hopefully I make it to the end healthy and safe. Thank you for the post
January 7th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
My mother (51) developed chickenpox when my father (52) was recovering from the singles. She never had the chickenpox before, nor was vaccinated against it. So it does happen, beware!
January 22nd, 2013 at 4:52 pm
I was with my pregnant daughter most of last weekend. I was having a headache on the left side of my head with a burning feeling at my hairline like I burned myself with a curling iron. This continued throughout the weekend, although Tylenol did help. Then come mid-morning on Monday and I started getting little blisters on my forehead and around my eye. I actually thought I had been bitten by a spider because I had a Shingles shot 3 years ago when I was 60 and didn’t realize I could get a milder form of the Shingles. I finally made a trip to a Walk-In Clinic and lo and behold I had a mild to moderate form of the shingles. Because my daughter wasn’t around me when the blisters appeared, the doctor didn’t think she need worry, although she said my daughter’s doctor should be aware of the situation. Thank heavens I had the shot before I actually got the Shingles. My pain is tolerable, although at times it burns consistent with a curling iron burn, but the medication is going a good job. I highly recommend anyone over 60 to take the time to get the Shingles shot. I can only imagine what would have happened had I not had the shot.
January 24th, 2013 at 8:50 am
Hi! Im a bit worried because im 6 weeks pregnant and im expose to shingles because my father in law got shingles and we at the same house. I have chicken pox before is itpossible that may baby can catch the virus alone? Even if I dont get shingles
January 24th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Thank you all for your comments.
Mary Ann,
If you have already had chickenpox, you should be OK. Your antibodies will prevent the virus from multiplying in your body and protect your baby. Also remember that shingles is not spread through the air. Infection can only occur after direct contact with the rash when it is in the blister-phase. A person with shingles is not contagious before the blisters appear or after they scab over. If you have any questions though, make sure you talk to your health care provider.
January 29th, 2013 at 11:19 am
What if you are trying to get pregnant and have just been diagnosed with shingles? I just started taking Valtrex and am in the process of starting an IVF cycle (frozen ET) but need to take Provera first to bring on a cycle which will take ten days to induce a period. While I don’t intend to take Provera while on Valtrex, is it ok to start Provera after I’m done or should I wait even longer?
January 29th, 2013 at 9:58 pm
I had chicken pox as a child when I got pregnant with my first I developed shingles at 16 weeks now I got it with my second at 29 weeks both times on my left inner tight…. So painful
January 30th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Hi Cindy. The best thing to do is for you to talk to your health care provider. S/he can better help you determine the best time to start Provera after you finish taking Valtrex. Sorry that we can’t be of greater assistance.
January 30th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Hi Maggie. So sorry to hear that you have shingles. Hopefully you will be feeling better soon!
February 12th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Hi I have an elderly ladie who lives with me I also take care of 13 month granddaughter who hasn’t had the pox and her mother is due any day now should I be concerned?
February 15th, 2013 at 10:54 am
Hi Christine. If someone in your household has shingles and your granddaughter or her mother has not had chicken pox or been vaccinated, then there is a chance that one of them may get chicken pox. Remember that shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered. However, it is important to talk to their health care providers.
March 11th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Hello All! I am 6 weeks pregnant and just found out today that I have shingles. While I am terrified (I’ve had 3 m/c’s) my doctor says this should not cause a problem, so I guess that’s some reassurance. We have our first appt this week, so I am trying to repeat my doc’s words to stay positive. She said Chickenpox would be bad, but with Shingles it should be ok.
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:16 am
Im 12 weeks pregnant, my 2nd and I was just diagnosed with shingles. My mom told me I’ve had chicken pox when i was little but i cant remember. It all started with a small rash at the right side of my back then after two days became blisters. I thought it was just allergic reaction when i scratched my back one night. My dr prescribed Acyclovir, an antiviral drug. Hey, it’s not cheap! He assured me it’s safe for pregnant women. Also, i was ordered to rest from work until i heal so as not not to expose others. Im on house arrest now. Haha. I am now starting to feel the pain coz the blisters spread to my breast. It’s like mild piercing on my body I cant help but cringe when it happens..I cant wait to feel better. I just wish and pray no harm will happen to my baby because of this. We can do this, moms! Ü
April 30th, 2013 at 8:26 pm
I am 36 weeks pregnant and was just diagnosed with shingles today: i had chicken pox at age 4. Please educate people responsibly on sites like this. Although it is quite rare for shingles to present in pregnancy, it can happen. I was seen by infectious diseases physicians today and was prescribed 1000mg acyclovir 3x/day for 8 days because the infection was identified 4 days after it presented (this is the timeframe this treatment will work). Do your own research, but this medicine has a lot of evidence that its safe in pregnancy. Good luck.
May 2nd, 2013 at 10:13 am
Hi Cris. Thank you so much for your comments. You are absolutely correct–if you have had chickenpox, it is possible to develop shingles during pregnancy. And antiviral medications, such as Acyclovir, are available and can lessen the severity and reduce the discomforts. For more information about antiviral meds, you can click on the link in the post. Hope you are feeling better soon!
May 10th, 2013 at 2:38 am
Hi. I’m 2 wks pregnant and just developed shingles. I’ve never had chicken pox and actually was neg when I had my titers drawn a few yrs ago and had had to hv the vaccine. I keep hearing and reading that it’s impossible to get shingles without first getting chicken pox so how is this possible??
May 10th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Hi Debby. According to the CDC, “Chickenpox vaccines contain weakened live varicella zoster virus (VZV), which may cause latent (dormant) infection. The vaccine-strain VZV can reactivate later in life and cause shingles.” So if you had the vaccine, you can get shingles. Hope you are feeling OK. Make sure you talk to your doc about any questions or concerns you may have.