Is Shingles Contagious?

Is shingles contagious?


Google auto complete of the day!  I typed "is" and got "is shingles contagious?" Yay!  First of all, let me point out that I am not a doctor.  If you think you might have shingles you should go to one.  Okay, let's jump into it.  The question I mean.  Not the shingles.
What is shingles?  Shingles, also known to people with MD's behind their name as herpes zoster (okay, that's a hint right there), is the same virus as chicken pox.  It presents itself as a painful blistering rash or patch.
After you have chicken pox as a child, the virus becomes dormant but it does not disappear.  As an adult many factors such as stress, age or medication can trigger the virus to become active again.
As for whether or not it is contagious, you cannot catch shingles from someone who has it.  However, according to WebMD, a person who has not had chicken pox or the vaccine can catch chicken pox from a person with active shingles.
I recently thought I had shingles on my back but I had no rash.  My wife said I was crazy and that I didn't have it.  So I asked a professional and my wife's opinion was validated.  About me not having shingles.  The jury's still out on my sanity.
Again, this is just entertainment.  If you think you have it, see a doctor!

PS:  I'm always looking for interesting stuff to research and share, so send me your questions and I'll do a little research, act like I know what I'm talking about, hopefully put a smile on your face