Shingles

[SurgyRN]

So I know that shingles can be spread to babies and immunocompromised people, but I'm wondering if that would include lymes disease? Is a person with lymes considered immunocompromised?

[loriangel14, RN]

Shingles can be spread to anyone.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Lyme disease is a blood based bacteria. Spread after bite from a vector insect (tick) not human to human. Shingles is a virus spread via contact with fluid filled blisters that contain the virus. Herpes zoster can be spread to anyone infant, immune compromised or healthy child/adult

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Shingles does not include Lyme disease. Perhaps you need to review the CDC website for info regarding both diseases and their transmission

[klone, MSN, RN]

I think the OP is asking if having Lyme disease makes a person immuno-compromised. Not in the traditional sense, but any time a person is battling a longer illness, their immune function is going to be somewhat depressed.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

What's the rationale behind your question, OP?

[SurgyRN]

Yes, thank you for clarifying my question. I am very aware of what Lymes and Shingles exemplify, just wanted extra input on thoughts of a lymes diseased person being around another person who has shingles.

[SurgyRN]

Actually, shingles can only spread to newborns, immunocompromised and unvaccinated people against varicella. Just fyi.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Actually, shingles can only spread to newborns, immunocompromised and unvaccinated people against varicella. Just fyi.

Not true. I have a healthy colleague who received the varicella vaccination but never had chicken pox. She contracted chicken pox after caring for a patient with not yet diagnosed active shingles. She used universal precautions while doing direct patient care. It's not likely but it's not impossible

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Yes, thank you for clarifying my question. I am very aware of what Lymes and Shingles exemplify, just wanted extra input on thoughts of a lymes diseased person being around another person who has shingles.

A patient who happens to be positive for Lymes disease that is not immune to varicella (positive titer post vaccination or history of disease) is at risk of contracting varicella infection if in contact with another individual with active shingles or chicken pox. If the patient positive for Lymes disease has immunity (positive titer) the risk is negligible.

Aside from known immune compromising conditions (primary or secondary immunodeficiency, HIV+, AIDS, active use of corticosteroids or similar drugs, active chemotherapy , aspleenic, etc), someone with positive immunity has a negligible chance of contracting varicella from a patient with active infection.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Actually, shingles can only spread to newborns, immunocompromised and unvaccinated people against varicella. Just fyi.

A person who never had chicken pox that is exposed to an active shingles blistering rash is at risk for contacting chicken pox not shingles.

People with Shingles: Real Stories

[SurgyRN]

Yes, correct. Thanks for all your responses. Here is a quoted portion from the CDC that confirms your statement.

Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles.