Shingles In Children - Exploding the Myths!
Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2009
by LeahG Artist
Cartoon & Illustration Services
My 5yr old boy has just been diagnosed as having Shingles.
He has two clusters of ‘red bumps' which look very much like insect bites and itch just the same. One cluster is on his right shoulder and the other on his left buttock.
Thus, a myth exploded! The myth is that Shingles only appears on a single part on the body.
Fortunately for children, they do not experience the same
debilitating and painful symptoms that adults with shingles experience.
There is no outward indication of a virus other than the appearance of
the itchy rash.
I have kept my son's itching under control with prescribed aqueous callamine cream. The itching is not severe enough for an anti-histamine product.
A great resource for finding out why shingles in children occurs, how contagious it is (or rather isn't) and how to treat it etc. can be found here:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_shingles_hhg.htm
The source indicates that Shingles is only contagious if you make contact with the rash itself and even then only to people who have not yet contracted chicken pox. Shingles is worse for adults and can reoccur more than once. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women and as such anyone with Shingles should avoid contact.
Shingles is apparently caused by the already contracted chicken pox virus which then lies dormant in the system and reawakens (perhaps during times of low immunity, stress or ill health) as Shingles.
As stated, Shingles in children is usually without any other symptom aside from the appearance of the rash (which may leave scars) and itching. BUT if the rash is near the eyes or nose then medical attention should be sought immediately.
For adults with Shingles or adults worried about contracting Shingles, a great source of information is here:
He has two clusters of ‘red bumps' which look very much like insect bites and itch just the same. One cluster is on his right shoulder and the other on his left buttock.
Thus, a myth exploded! The myth is that Shingles only appears on a single part on the body.
I have kept my son's itching under control with prescribed aqueous callamine cream. The itching is not severe enough for an anti-histamine product.
A great resource for finding out why shingles in children occurs, how contagious it is (or rather isn't) and how to treat it etc. can be found here:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_shingles_hhg.htm
The source indicates that Shingles is only contagious if you make contact with the rash itself and even then only to people who have not yet contracted chicken pox. Shingles is worse for adults and can reoccur more than once. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women and as such anyone with Shingles should avoid contact.
Shingles is apparently caused by the already contracted chicken pox virus which then lies dormant in the system and reawakens (perhaps during times of low immunity, stress or ill health) as Shingles.
As stated, Shingles in children is usually without any other symptom aside from the appearance of the rash (which may leave scars) and itching. BUT if the rash is near the eyes or nose then medical attention should be sought immediately.
For adults with Shingles or adults worried about contracting Shingles, a great source of information is here:
http://www.medinfo.co.uk/conditions/shingles.html
All the above aside, some
people dispute the medical opinion re how Shingles is contracted. Some
believe that the chicken pox vaccine itself is responsible for an
increase of Shingles in children. I am not aware of the details of this
or how valid their concerns are. Neither of my children had this
vaccine and both contracted chicken pox the regular way….from their
friends without any serious consequence.
Meanwhile, as to how to treat Shingles in children.
Keep them off school for 7 days is the Doctors
advice (to me) and away from pregnant women and other children without
their parents consent.
My Doctor also suggested it was unlikely any of
the family would ‘catch' the Shingles from my son, but said it was
possible. That is despite the fact we've all had chicken pox and the
advice on the sources suggests we cannot ‘catch' Shingles as Shingles
is a dormant virus which if it appears, it's appears as a result of our
own virus not someone elses!
I don't know who is right, but in light of the contradictory advice, caution is recommended.
My advice is to
apply cream to your child with Shingles while wearing a surgical glove
or let them apply the cream themselves under your strict supervision.
Issue them with their own towel and don't allow any sharing of towels until the virus has cleared.
Avoid cuddling you child, sharing eating appliances and definitely do not touch that rash!
These are my tips not those recommended by the medical profession, but they can't hurt any!
Edit: After having Googled for pictures of Shingles in children I am doubting my child has shingles afterall! I think they are insect bites which may explain why they appear in more than one place on his body. But I will exercise caution in any case.
Pics of Shingles (from the web) in children
LeahG Artist and Designer
Leah left the retail and health management world a few years ago to become a freelance writer and artist. She now enjoys creating funky vibrant cartoons and illsutrations for websites, promotional materials and as gifts. Leah would love to illustrate her own children's books in the future. Presently she is creating cartoon and cartoon mascots for business clients.
Visit LeahG's Cartoon and Illustration Services website here for updates and latest art work.
Leah left the retail and health management world a few years ago to become a freelance writer and artist. She now enjoys creating funky vibrant cartoons and illsutrations for websites, promotional materials and as gifts. Leah would love to illustrate her own children's books in the future. Presently she is creating cartoon and cartoon mascots for business clients.
Visit LeahG's Cartoon and Illustration Services website here for updates and latest art work.
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More commentsGreat article. Well done.In America they immunise against Chicken pox, but - as you said - this increases the chances of getting shingles.However, in the UK we don't immunise aganist chicken pox and have very few cases of shingles.Thanks :) my son's spots are disappearing now, and there hasn't been any obvious crusting/weeping, so I'm thinking it was maybe an allergic reaction to something?
Howdy CB, Great and informative article. I had shingles when I was in High School, and it affected my left side, it started as a little dot under my left armpit, then it worked it's way to the front of my shoulder, and over the shoulder, and down the left side of my back. It was very painful, and back in those days, they knew very little about it. My doctor took pictures of my shingles because he said it was the worst he'd ever seen with a boy of my age. The only thing he told my mom was to wash my back and the affected area with Dial Medicated Soap three times a day, and it did go away after about 8 days....but if someone came through the front screen door, and let is slam, it would send a pain all the way through my body. This left a slight scar that is barely visible, but there is also hardly any feeling on the left side of my back, I can feel pressure on the left side, but I cannot feel the pain of anything sharp, like fingernails or anything that is sharp...weird huh? Well, this was a great article, and it is painful and I wouldn't wish it on anyone......Great read....your fan, and friend, ........ GaryPoor you, it is indeed an awful affliction for adults! Thanks for commenting :)
I'm sorry, But I had the shingles when I was 7 years old ,and it was very painful my grandma had to watch me for 3 weeks and she kept ice packs on me because I was in constant pain. I don't remember itching I just remember it burning so bad I couldn't stop crying!!! so I think it's safe to say that it's a myth, that it doesn't effect children as bad as older folks!My son who is 11 years old, he has autism, severe intellectual disability and is non verbal has just been diagnosed with shingles. When he was 3 and half he also got shingles and the GP did not take his temperature and apparently he was SO sick, screaming and yelling for about a week and it turned out he also developed Encephalitis which led to him getting brain damaged and thus his numerous issues. However, this time he is pacing up and down continuously for about 20 hours and he is on Acyclov tablets, codeine plus and nurofen and he is in so much pain.. Reading these messages at least gives me an idea of the extent of pain and discomfort the poor boy is going through. What is scary is apparently once you have had shingles you are more prone to getting it again. Yuk!
my daughter is 7 and she has just been diagnosed with shingles under her left arm pit and on her left shoulder blade she says it hurts alot and is on antibiotics and pain relief for 5 days, your article was very imformative thank you
Hi,My 11yr old son has just been diagnosed with Shingles, I had no idea that kids could get it! We thought they were insect bites, but last night the blistering started down the left side of his body. He is in lots of pain. We think that this was bought on by bullying that has been going on in his school. He is on penicillin and pain relief. A big problem is that he has a skin disorder which means that all the spots and blisters will leave bad scarring. But never mind, it could be worse!!
I have just discovered this site whilst googling shingles in children and I have found it very helpful. Thank you
Thanks for all the info. I too did not know that kids can get shingles. I will bookmark this article and save just in case - I also have a young boy. Good luck to you!
My son was just diagnosed with shingles and has very debilitating pain. In fact we thought he had a fractured arm prior to the rash appearing. He is wearing a sling and has had xrays and was prescribed Tylenol with codeine. We were just prescribed some antivirals. weird part. He hasn't had chicken pox and has been vaccinated against chicken pox.
My 5 yr old niece came up with the shingles,AND she's never had chicken pox! Anyone know how this is possible???Anyone have this experience before??
My 11 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with shingles. She was given antivirul drugs and paracetomal. She has 2 rashes on left side of her back and top right of chest. She had a fever to start and now says the rash is uncomfortable and painful to lie on. She is off her food and a bit listless. Other than that we are hoping that in a week or so she will have recovered. I was shocked when she was diagnosed yesterday and asked the docter loads of questions......it's good that there's sites like this and others as I have learnt a lot more on the internet. Instinct tells me to try and give her lots of fresh fruit and fluids. I'll also get her a good quality vitamin supply. She is normally healthy and very active...eats well and never ill. It has baffled me why she has got shingles.....can anyone shed a light??I hope your daughter made a good recovery Christine.
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