Singles / How contagious?

[AB]

Have been trying to get through to the docs this morning with no luck, will keep trying, but in the meantime does anyone have any advice on this situation;

I have a 7 week old daughter and the elderly mother of a colleague has been in hospital with shingles, he has been visiting all weekend.

I am due to work fairly closely with him this afternoon and I’m slightly concerned that I may pick something up which could then be transferred to my daughter.

I had chicken pox as a kid so I don’t suppose it’s a problem for me, but can it be passed from one person to another, then on to a baby? I.e can I carry something home?

Any advice appreciated.

[wazztie16]

When was the last legendary thread?

We could make this one.

Somehow.

[Piha]

Oooo, with shingles anything might be possible.

Important - IANAD.

[RTB]

It's unlikely. Virus is secreted during shingles but generally only from the vesicle fluid (if any are present), it's rare for virus to be communicated via respiratory secretions in shingles. If you and your colleague already have immunity and your colleague hasn't been in contact with any of the vesicular fluid (unlikely) then they chances of communicating any viable virus from elderly mother to your 7 month old via you and your colleague are pretty slim. There's still a risk but, I'd say, no greater than your child being out in public mixing with people and other children.

p.s. IANAD..... well not a useful medical one.

[AB]

Thanks for the input. The concern was raised by my wife who is overlay cautious with things like this so I said I'd check with our GP which is notoriously difficult unless you are in the process of dying or get lucky with your 3 millionth phone call bang on 8am.

[gooner1]

Piha said:

Oooo, with shingles anything might be possible.

Important - IANAD.

At last.