How To Understand Shingles In Children

Shingles in Children does not happen frequently.  In fact, it only occurs five percent of the time in childhood.  In order to come down with Shingles, a child would have had Chicken Pox at an earlier time.  Both conditions are caused by the Herpes Zoster virus which lies dormant in the nervous system until the immune system is compromised.  Children who suffer with Shingles usually had a light case of Chicken Pox at age one or younger, or had a mother who had it toward the end of pregnancy. 

    Step 1:  Be alert for any strange rash on your child.  Shingles in children starts with itchy red bumps.  Like many similar rashes, water blisters  eventually appear.  The difference is that this rash will follow the path of a nerve and occur only on one side of the body. Usually, you will see it on the chest, back, arms, or abdomen. Your child may not be in too much pain, which is not true for an adult with the same condition.  If the break out is on the face, nose or eye, medical attention is needed immediately.

   Step 2:  Look for crusts to form.  This should happen in about ten days.  Your child will be contagious during this time period.  Although you cannot get Shingles from an infected person, you can get Chicken Pox if you have never had the disease.  Shingles in children will run its course no matter what you do.  A physician may prescribe soothing creams or antiviral drugs.

  Step 3:  Understand that deep scars can develop from Shingles in children.  It is important to try to avoid any picking at scabs or itching.  This will prevent the sores from becoming infected.  

Comments (1)

ladym33 said:

	... My mom had shingles it was so awful. She had to stay away from my kids, which was hard for everyone.
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April 30, 2010
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