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Chickenpox and shingles Information for patients This leaflet can be made available in other formats including large print, CD and braille, and in languages other than English, upon request. IPC/459 (2013) Page 1 of 4 For Review Winter 2016 This leaflet tells you about chickenpox and shingles. What is chickenpox? Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Infection is most common in children but also occurs in adults. How is chickenpox caught or spread? Chickenpox can easily be passed from person to person. It is spread by airborne droplets and close contact with an infected person. The disease develops 10 - 21 days after exposure to the virus and is infectious until the last spot has dried up (usually 5 - 7 days after the first spots appeared). What are the signs and symptoms of chickenpox? These can include: • • • • • • a high temperature (fever) tiredness rash coughing loss of appetite vomiting (being sick). Chickenpox may begin with cold-like symptoms followed by a high temperature and an itchy rash of red spots which turn into watery blisters within a few hours. The spots appear over several days. They then burst and form scabs. The rash can cover all parts of the body, including the eyes and inside of the mouth. What treatment is given for chickenpox? Chickenpox usually clears up without treatment, but the infection is worse in adults. If you have been exposed to chickenpox or shingles and are non-immune or classed as high risk due to a medical condition or pregnancy you may be offered antiretroviral treatment. The treatment (an injection) can prevent or reduce how severe the infection is, if given within the first few days after coming into contact with the virus. Your Healthcare North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Chickenpox and shingles IPC/459 (2013) Page 2 of 4 For Review Winter 2016 In hospital you will be cared for in a single room to prevent the spread of infection to others. You should: • rest where possible and wear light, loose cotton clothes. • drink plenty of fluids to help reduce any fever • apply calamine lotion to the spots to reduce itching or take the medicine (antihistamine) which may be prescribed by your doctor. The rash may be painful so the use of painkillers may be needed. Antibiotics may be given if the spots become infected. Always follow the instructions provided in the leaflet supplied with your tablets. • keep the rash clean and dry. You must not pick or scratch the spots as this may cause permanent scarring. What is shingles? Once you have had chickenpox you develop lifelong immunity to it and it is rare to catch chickenpox again. Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus which mainly affects adults. It may be triggered by stress or being in poor health, often the cause is unknown. You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox. What are the signs and symptoms of shingles? These can include: • • • tiredness pain a rash similar to that of chickenpox. The rash occurs on one side of the body, (often over the ribs) spreading over the affected nerve, but can sometimes affect half of the face or head. The rash will be present for about 7 days but the pain may last for longer. What treatment is given for shingles? Treatment for shingles is the same as for chickenpox. If you are in hospital, you will be cared for in a single room to prevent the spread of infection to others. You will be prescribed painkillers for any pain and may be given creams or lotion for the rash. Shingles is infectious, but less so than chickenpox. If you have shingles you can pass chickenpox to someone who has never had it before. Your Healthcare North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Chickenpox and shingles IPC/459 (2013) Page 3 of 4 For Review Winter 2016 When can I go back to work or school? You may return to work or school once you are fully recovered and the last spot has dried up (usually 5 - 7 days after the first spots appeared). Is there anything else I should know? Chickenpox is usually a mild illness and complications are rare. However, it can cause serious illness in adults, people with a low immune system and premature babies. Chickenpox can affect the developing baby of a pregnant woman (especially during the early and very late stages) if she does not have natural immunity. This is rare, but if you are pregnant and you have been in contact with a person with chickenpox or shingles, you must contact your GP as soon as possible. You may need to have a blood test or may need treatment. Contact numbers If you have any questions or concerns please ask your GP or nurse. Contact your GP's surgery during normal surgery hours. Outside surgery hours you should contact your GP's surgery for the Out of Hours Service number. Infection Prevention and Control Department telephone: 01642 383280 Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm Further information is available from: NHS Direct telephone: 111 (when it is less urgent than 999) Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones or via the website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Information used in the development of this leaflet 1. Heininger U & Seward JF (2006) "Varicella" The Lancet, 368 (9544), p. 1365. 2. Hawker, J. el al (2012) Communicable Disease Control and Health Protection Handbook. Wiley - Blackwell Publishing. Oxford. Your Healthcare North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Chickenpox and shingles IPC/459 (2013) Page 4 of 4 For Review Winter 2016 This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Quality Assurance Team, University Hospital of North Tees or email: [email protected]. Comments, Concerns, Compliments or Complaints We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we're doing well or if there's anything which we can improve; that's why the Patient Experience Team is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact: telephone: 01642 624719 Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 4.00pm Messages can be left on the answering machine and will be picked up throughout the day. freephone: 0800 092 0084 Mobile (can use text): 07795061883 Email: [email protected] Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person: telephone: 01642 617617 24 hours a day, 7 days a week The Patient Experience Team is available to discuss your concerns in person Monday Friday, 1.30pm - 4.30pm. Data Protection and use of patient information The Trust has developed a Data Protection Policy in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect this policy and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information please contact the Head of Communications. telephone: 01642 624339 or www.dataprotection.gov.uk University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8PE Telephone: 01642 617617 Fax: 01642 624089 University Hospital of Hartlepool, Holdforth Road, Hartlepool TS24 9AH Telephone: 01429 266654 Fax: 01429 522177 Your Healthcare North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust