Can you have sexual intercourse with herpes zoster?

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Firstly, it is advised not to have sexual intercourse during an episode of shingles to avoid cross-infection and aid recovery. Humans are the only hosts for the varicella-zoster virus, which can enter the body through respiratory and oral tracts, genital mucosa, saliva, and skin, and lies dormant in human mucosa, blood, saliva, spinal cord, posterior nerve roots, and sensory ganglia cells. People with acute shingles need to seek prompt medical diagnosis to avoid missing the optimal treatment window and delaying the condition. The treatment principles mainly include antiviral therapy, infection control, pain relief, and aiding scab formation. Typically, proper recovery from shingles is expected within seven to ten days in a standard hospital, and this helps in reducing the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What family does shingles belong to?

Shingles can be treated in three medical departments. First, dermatology. Since the blisters primarily appear on the skin, seeing a dermatologist can treat shingles. Second, neurology. As shingles may be caused by nerve damage, treatment can be sought from a neurologist. Third, for severe pain, especially if postherpetic neuralgia remains after shingles, one can consult the pain management department. The initial symptoms of shingles are mainly pain, particularly unilateral limb or unilateral scalp/facial pain.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is shingles contagious?

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Therefore, shingles is contagious to people, especially children, who have never been infected with the virus. The virus is primarily transmitted through the respiratory tract. Thus, it is recommended that if someone in the household contracts shingles, particularly in households with children, it is crucial to avoid close contact and to implement appropriate isolation measures. It is also important to keep windows open for ventilation to prevent transmitting the virus to children, who may develop chickenpox, or to some adults who may also be susceptible to chickenpox if they have never been infected with the virus before.

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Written by Yu Gang
Dermatology Department
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How long does herpes zoster take to heal?

The healing time for shingles varies from person to person; generally, younger people recover faster, while older individuals take longer. Treatment typically includes oral antiviral medications like famciclovir and acyclovir, as well as nutrients for nerve health such as vitamins B1 and B12, along with oral traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. However, if it progresses to postherpetic neuralgia, the condition tends to heal more slowly. Postherpetic neuralgia can only alleviate pain but is generally difficult to cure completely.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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herpes zoster symptoms

The symptoms of herpes zoster primarily manifest as irregular erythema on certain parts of the body's skin, followed by clusters of rice-grain or mung bean-sized raised vesicular rash, blisters, and blood blisters. These rashes generally appear on one side of the body, not crossing the body's midline, and are accompanied by local sensations of burning, scalding pain, stabbing pain, numbness, itching, and other abnormal neural sensations.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can people with herpes zoster take a bath?

Whether or not someone who has herpes zoster (shingles) can take a bath depends on the individual’s condition. Most patients can bathe, but they must not scrub, especially at the areas affected by the rash. A minority of patients should avoid bathing if their blisters have ruptured, leading to open sores that could facilitate a secondary bacterial infection. In such cases, bathing is not recommended as it may worsen the infection.