Is shingles infectious (catching)?
People do not catch shingles from each other. A person with shingles cannot give another person shingles, nor can you catch shingles from someone with chickenpox. In fact, it has been found that when people who have had chickenpox encounter the disease again, it increases their immunity and means they are less likely to develop shingles. Chickenpox is infectious – people can give it to someone who has not already had it. Someone with shingles may give another person chickenpox if that person has never had chickenpox before, through direct contact with the shingles sores. This is because it is the same virus. Once people have had chickenpox, they do not usually get it again. 6 – What does shingles look like? Most often people get shingles on one side of the trunk or torso, front and back, in the area covered by the affected nerve. Occasionally it occurs elsewhere on the body or the face. Red patches are usually the first sign of the rash appearing, and possibly: • Itching, tingling or b
