You are examining a 70-year-old patient who shows signs of shingles. Which of the following people should this patient avoid contact with?
A)Young children who have not been vaccinated for Varicella
B)The patient's 18-year-old grandson who had chicken-pox as a child
C)Both A and B
D)Neither A nor B, as the patient is not contagious

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shingles is the late manifestation of herpes zoster caused by varicella zoster, the same virus responsible for chicken-pox. After someone has chicken pox, the virus lays dormant in nerve tissue and can reappear later in life as shingles. For those who have already had chicken pox, it is not contagious as they have already had exposure. However, for young children who have not had the chicken pox or have not been appropriately vaccinated, direct contact with the area of the body that has \shingles can lead to disease transmission and development of chicken pox. It is advisable that people with shingles avoid those who have not been vaccinated for the virus or have not been exposed to the virus in the past until the infection clears.

You Are Examining a 70-Year-Old Patient Who Shows Signs of Shingles