Shingles Risk After Chickenpox Infection
Yes, you can get shingles if you had chickenpox as a child, regardless of whether your wife was vaccinated against shingles. The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox remains dormant in your nerve ganglia after the initial infection and can reactivate later in life as shingles 1.
Understanding Shingles Development
Shingles (herpes zoster) occurs when the varicella-zoster virus that has been dormant in your nerve ganglia since your childhood chickenpox infection reactivates. This reactivation process:
- Is related to your own immune system, not to external exposure
- Can happen decades after the initial chickenpox infection
- Is not prevented by someone else's vaccination status
Key Facts About Shingles Risk
- Having had chickenpox means the virus is already in your body 2
- Your wife's shingles vaccination protects her but does not affect your risk 1
- No preventive measures are currently available to prevent shingles in someone who has had chickenpox 3
Transmission Considerations
It's important to understand that:
- Shingles itself is not "caught" from another person
- The virus that causes shingles is already in your body from your previous chickenpox infection
- A person with active shingles can transmit the varicella virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it, causing chickenpox in that person 3
- Your wife's vaccination against shingles reduces her risk of developing shingles but does not affect your risk 1
Risk Factors for Developing Shingles
Several factors increase the likelihood of VZV reactivation:
- Advanced age (risk increases significantly after age 50) 4
- Weakened immune system due to:
- Certain medications
- Medical conditions
- HIV infection
- Cancer treatments 5
- Stress
- Recent trauma or surgery
Prevention Options
Since you've had chickenpox, consider the following:
- Shingles vaccination: The CDC recommends shingles vaccination for adults 50 years and older, regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox 1
- The shingles vaccine significantly reduces your risk of developing shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (a painful complication) 4
- The vaccine is recommended even if your spouse has been vaccinated, as your risk is independent of their vaccination status
Conclusion
Your wife's shingles vaccination status has no impact on your risk of developing shingles. Since you had chickenpox as a child, the virus is already present in your body and could potentially reactivate regardless of external factors. Consider getting vaccinated against shingles when age-appropriate (typically at age 50 or older) to reduce your own risk of developing this painful condition 4, 6.