Shingles

Nurses General Nursing

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Is it common for nurses to get infected with (Shingles) Herpes Zoster while on the job. And what do patients recieve for the pain of shingles?:cry:

Thanks

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I do not believe so. While I have worked with two nurses who had shingles they were not acquired from work.

Patient who have active wheeping shingles are put on contact precautions and as you know we use universal precautions with every patient.

If one has had Chicken Pox, there is a possibility at some point in their life of having Shingles.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If we have a pt with shingles we use precautions. I have never heard of anyone getting shingles from a pt. The last pt we had took Tylenol #3 for pain. I would be interested in hearing if anyone has gotten shingles at work.

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The chicken pox virus never really goes away, it lays dormant in your body and can later in life reactivate itself as shingles.

So, no you cant catch shingles at work. You can catch chicken pox from a pt who has active shingles if you never had chicken pox.

Pts with shingles are put on contact isolation only if the shingles outbreak is large and appears bilaterally (that is the current policy at my facility).

Prevention is available by getting the chicken pox vaccine.

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If you or someone you knows has an outbreak of shingles they should ask their doctor about the new vaccine. I think it is recommended for people over 60 and those who have had an outbreak and are under 60.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I neglected the pain question you had. I have seen them use the various narcotics including both the short and long acting varieties./ Topical patches such as fentanyl patch was used.. Some who have the lingering pain of shingles with no current blister or scabs, lidocaine patches have been put on the area with differing degrees of success along with some of the medication which stop neuropathic pain such as Lyrica or the others in this classification.

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Lyrica is commonly given for patients with shiingles pain after the initial rash is gone. The pain can last for months after the rash is gone.

At the onset, stronger pain medication may be needed.

As pointed out up-post, shingles can break out in anyone who had chicken pox as a kid.

(Yikes! That means me!)

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.
If you or someone you knows has an outbreak of shingles they should ask their doctor about the new vaccine. I think it is recommended for people over 60 and those who have had an outbreak and are under 60.[/quote

I have a question Oramar, is this vaccine only for people who have already had shingles or can it be for those of use who have had chicken pox, but crossing our fingers have not have shingles?

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.
If you or someone you knows has an outbreak of shingles they should ask their doctor about the new vaccine. I think it is recommended for people over 60 and those who have had an outbreak and are under 60.[/quote

I have a question Oramar, is this vaccine only for people who have already had shingles or can it be for those of use who have had chicken pox, but crossing our fingers have not have shingles?

from what i understand it is for anyone aged 60 and over. i have never heard that you can use it on people under 60 that have had an outbreak. will have to check into that. i had shingles when i was 18 and i suuuuuure dont want them again!!!

(of course you have to look at the patients medical history and all before giving the vaccine, like the chicken pox vaccine it is a live virus therefore anyone on chemo or any immunosupressant cannot have it) (it is also VERY expensive and not all insurances pay for it!)

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I was an oddball case. I got shingles while in my early 20's. By coincidence, I developed my case of shingles not long after an out break of shingles in he LTC facility I worked for.

It was very painful, lasted a long long time and I was given NOTHING for pain. I was told I was young and should be able to "tough it out". I guess the doc thought I was a drug seeker because I was young? My shingles were not in the typical place. Mine were in my face on the right side. Exactly, where they are in this picture (wasn't a pretty sight I can tell ya)

shingles.jpg

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, physicians office.

Children who have gotten the chicken pox vaccine can also get shingles - my 7 year old grandson got the vaccine routinely, and he has gotten shingles every year for the past two years.

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Specializes in surgical,urology, ENT.

Hey,

I would have to agree with most of the comments, Shingles is not contagious....if you happen to have chicken pox before then maybe the chances of getting shingles is higher. But if you never had chicken pox you whole life, I think it's best for you get immunisation from it. It will definately saves you from alot of pain and anguish.

For shingles, the most common symptoms is itching and the painful side effects of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. Administering antiviral drugs such as acyclovir can help in reducing severity and duration of shingles attack. Other treatment includes giving oral or topical painkillers, and steroids to reduce inflamation.

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