Is It Bad To Scratch Shingles

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Get the Facts

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

I scratched badly my HIV+ puppy

Dear doctor,while respecting rules for serodiscordant couples we got into more wildest mood and I accidentaly scrached my boyfriend horribly :). I think I had even his skin behind my nails. His wound was bleeding, but I did not get into contact with...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,The HIV-acquisition risk is essentially nonexistent, as his blood did not come into contact with your mucous membranes or non-intact skin. I realize it's Halloween and all, but I would suggest you tone down your Freddy Krueger sex... Read more »

two episodes of shingles

I am a 26 year old female, otherwise healthy, who developed shingles in a small area on the outside of my left thigh- was put on acyclovir, 800 mg 5X day- seemed to respond well. However, a week after ending the acyclovir therapy, developed a...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Shingles cannot be transmitted to others, but if your contacts have never had chicken pox, they may get that from you (shingles is just reactivated chicken pox, so you have to get chicken pox first.) It is a bit unusual to have 2 episodes so close... Read more »

Shingles and finger infections

I had a bad case of Shingles on my left side in March of 2005. Just prior to the Shingles onset, two of my fingers on my right hand developed large pus filled sacs around the fingernails. They were extremely painful and remained with me for about...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Perhaps, but it is very hard to say, not having a diagnosis of what was going on with your fingers.... Read more »

Can worry cause shingles ?

What's the chance that an HIV neg. person would develop Shingles seven days after having risky sexual contact with a person who has primary HIV?...

Response from Ewald Horwath, M.D.

University of Miami School of Medicine

Herpes zoster (shingles) usually occurs in adults who have a prior history of chickenpox as children. It is an outbreak of skin lesions, which occurs due to reactivation of a virus that has been dormant previously. It is most likely to occur in... Read more »

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Shingles = HIV?

Posted by grcboy30, 5 Replies

Hi there.
I had chicken pox at 5 years old so can develop shingles. I haven't been to the doctor yet but have what I am pretty sure is shingles on the side of my chest (a pink rash which is itchy with bumps). I am terrified of HIV. I am only 30... Read more »

shingles

Posted by tboy, 2 Replies

last week I was diagnosed with shingles. I didn't get nearly the attention of the doctors or information I needed. Oh sure I recieved a prescription but not much information. I'm taking acyclovir (sp?) It is painful to sleep and my leg looks... Read more »

shingle will happen twice or more?

Posted by JHIV130306, 3 Replies

help!!! i had shingle few weeks ago but it seems recovered,however,i today felt that i have the same symptom of developing shingle the other side of my body!!! will this happen this way? anyone had this situation before? please~~~~i'm so... Read more »

Infection throgh scratches

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hi,

Hope someone can advise.

I've always been served by this HIV positive beautician for about 2 years and have not feared for my life before. BUT since 11 Oct 1999, I've been living in fear of contracting HIV.

On that day, while she was massaging... Read more »

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