Shingles During Pregnancy: Safe Treatment Options Available

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). If you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your body and may reactivate later in life, causing shingles. Shingles can be uncomfortable and painful, but is it safe during pregnancy?

Shingles symptoms

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, itchy rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. If you've had chickenpox before, the virus can stay dormant in your nervous system and, if reactivated, cause shingles.

The first symptoms of shingles may include pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop, often on one side of the body or face. For some people, the pain is severe. Other symptoms may include fever, chills, nausea, diarrhoea, and difficulty urinating.

The pain and tingling are followed by a rash, which begins with reddish bumps that become fluid-filled blisters. The blisters usually scab over and fall off after about seven to ten days, with the blisters healing in about two to four weeks. Even after the rash disappears, the skin at the rash site may be a different colour, and nerve pain may persist (a condition called postherpetic neuralgia). About one-fifth of people who get shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia, which usually goes away within four months of the first sign of the rash.

In rare cases, shingles can cause hearing or vision problems if the outbreak affects the nerves on the face. Shingles can also cause weakness in the muscles on the affected side of the face, as well as balance issues. In very rare cases, shingles can spread to the brain or spinal cord and cause serious complications such as stroke or meningitis.

Shingles treatment during pregnancy

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, itchy rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. While shingles can cause uncomfortable symptoms, it is unlikely to harm your baby.

If you believe you have shingles, it is important to see your doctor right away. Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, such as acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex). These medications are safe to take during pregnancy and are most effective when taken as soon as possible after the rash appears.

In addition to prescription medications, there are over-the-counter (OTC) medications and self-help measures that can help relieve shingles symptoms:

• Cold compresses and cool baths to relieve pain
• Loose clothing and clean gauze coverings over affected areas to promote healing and prevent infection
• Antihistamines (such as Benadryl), oatmeal baths, and calamine lotion to reduce itching
• The OTC painkiller acetaminophen (but always speak to your doctor before taking any OTC medication)

Pregnant women should not take NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) late in pregnancy.

If you are planning to become pregnant and are concerned about shingles, speak to your doctor about the possibility of getting the chickenpox vaccine several months beforehand. The chickenpox vaccine is not safe during pregnancy, but it is safe while breastfeeding.

Shingles prevention

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is a reactivated form of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you've had chickenpox before, the virus stays inactive in your body, but it can sometimes reactivate in the form of shingles.

Get the Chickenpox Vaccine Before Pregnancy

If you've never had chickenpox and are planning to become pregnant, consider getting the chickenpox vaccine several months before trying to conceive. The vaccine helps protect you from getting chickenpox and reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy. However, it is not safe to get the vaccine during pregnancy.

Avoid Contact with Chickenpox or Shingles

If you haven't had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine, it is crucial to avoid direct contact with people who have an active chickenpox or shingles infection. These infections can spread until all blisters have crusted over. Stay away from crowds or gatherings where you may come into contact with the infection, especially if you are pregnant.

Practice Good Hygiene and Self-Care

If you've had shingles before, the immunity you've developed to chickenpox will protect your unborn baby. However, it's important to practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. Keep the rash area clean and dry, and avoid sharing clothing, towels, or personal items. Wash your hands frequently, especially if you are experiencing an active outbreak.

Manage Stress and Boost Your Immune System

Shingles is usually triggered when your immunity is low, which can be due to stress or other illnesses. To reduce the risk of a shingles outbreak during pregnancy, try to manage your stress levels and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat nutritious foods, get regular exercise, and get enough rest to keep your immune system strong.

Consult Your Doctor

If you are planning to get pregnant and are concerned about shingles, speak to your doctor about your options. They may recommend the shingles vaccine or other preventive measures. If you experience any symptoms of shingles during pregnancy, such as a rash or nerve pain, consult your healthcare provider right away for diagnosis and treatment. Early recognition and treatment will help minimize the risk of complications for you and your baby.

Shingles complications

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, itchy rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Shingles can be quite painful and uncomfortable, and it can lead to several complications, some of which can be serious.

One possible complication of shingles is nerve pain, which can persist even after the rash has healed. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia. About one-fifth of people who get shingles develop this complication, and the pain can last for months or even years.

Shingles can also cause eye damage if it occurs on the face. It can lead to scarring, which can impair vision, and can also cause glaucoma, an eye disease that can lead to blindness later in life.

In rare cases, shingles can spread to the brain or spinal cord and cause serious complications such as stroke or meningitis. These complications are more common in people with weakened immune systems due to medication or diseases such as HIV, and in people over 60 years of age.

Shingles during pregnancy is rare, and it rarely causes complications for the baby. However, it is important to protect newborns from contact with the shingles rash if it develops right before or after birth.

Shingles transmission

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the VZV virus stays dormant in their body, lying inactive in certain nerve cells. However, anything that affects the immune system's ability to hold back the virus—illnesses, immunosuppressive drugs, severe stress, or ageing-related changes—can cause the virus to reactivate and cause shingles.

Shingles can be transmitted through direct contact with the fluid from the blisters of a shingles rash. It can affect people who have not had chickenpox in the past and those who are not vaccinated against chickenpox. If these people come into contact with VZV, it can cause chickenpox. Later on, VZV may reactivate in the body and cause shingles.

VZV is not transmissible before the blisters appear or after they crust over. Covering a shingles rash reduces the risk of VZV passing to others. It is also worth noting that shingles is only spread by close contact with the blistery skin rash shingles causes, while chickenpox is also spread through respiratory transmission. So the likelihood of catching chickenpox from someone with shingles is fairly low, especially if the rash is covered up by clothing.

If you are pregnant and have shingles, it is important to take steps to protect your baby from coming into contact with the shingles rash. Covering the rash and frequent handwashing can help.

Frequently asked questions