From the Guidelines
If you've been exposed to someone with active shingles, you generally don't need to worry if you've had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, but if you're susceptible to varicella-zoster virus, such as those with no history of chickenpox or are seronegative for VZV, you should avoid exposure to persons with chickenpox or shingles 1. When considering the risks associated with contact with active shingles, it's essential to understand that shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in someone who previously had chickenpox. You cannot "catch" shingles from someone else, but if you've never had chickenpox or the vaccine, you could potentially contract chickenpox from contact with shingles fluid. Some key points to consider include:
- Avoiding direct contact with the rash and any fluid from the blisters if you've never had chickenpox or the vaccine
- Consulting your healthcare provider promptly after exposure if you're pregnant, immunocompromised, or have never had chickenpox, as they may recommend varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) within 10 days of exposure or the chickenpox vaccine if you're eligible 1
- For most healthy adults with prior immunity, no specific action is needed after shingles exposure, as your body already has antibodies against the virus It's crucial to prioritize precautions for those who are susceptible to varicella-zoster virus, as outlined in the guidelines for the prevention of opportunistic infections in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Contact with Active Shingles
- Contact with active shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), can lead to the transmission of the virus to individuals who have not previously been infected with VZV, typically resulting in chickenpox 2.
- Shingles itself is usually a localized phenomenon and is less contagious than chickenpox, but it can still spread to others who have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against VZV 2.
- The risk of transmission can be higher for individuals with weakened immune systems, such as older adults or those with compromised cell-mediated immunity, who are more susceptible to developing severe VZV infections 3, 4.
- Vaccination against VZV, such as with the Shingrix vaccine, can help prevent the development of shingles and reduce the risk of transmission to others 5.
- Antiviral agents, such as acyclovir and valacyclovir, can be used to treat VZV infections, but the emergence of resistance to these agents is a concern, and new treatments, such as amenamevir, are being developed to address this issue 6.