I know this has been discussed a number of times before, but never sure what conclusions are reached. My son, whom I see frequently, most recently on Sunday, tells me that he may have had chickenpox as a child after all, as his doctor has tentatively diagnosed him with shingles. Although it might be a really bad case of contact dermatitis. 
Test results won't be available for a few days so he's being treated as though he has shingles just in case. What should I be aware of? I don't think I've ever had chickenpox, although if son had it, maybe I too have had a subclinical case. Both other kids had chickenpox, years apart, so we were apparently not a very vulnerable clan.
I was only 18 months old when I had chicken pox, so obviously I did not remember it, but my mother told me. I know that my brother also had chicken pox, but I would be willing to bet that he did not remember that information. Is is possible that you did indded have chicken pox when you were quite small and you just don't know it? I am not sure if there is a blood rest to see if a person is immune or not. Good luck. I hope your son will be okay. As I understand it, Shingles can be horrible. I had the vaccine, but now I hear that it isn't good for life. I need to check to see if I need to get another one. Sure would have to have Shingles on top of PMR!!! Yikes!!
My father, a doctor, would have known if I'd had it and told me, unless like my son I had a subclinical case. My son hopes he'll have the test results by Friday. I guess I should call my own GP and see if I might be a candidate for chickenpox vaccination, but of course they'll have to check my immunity anyway. Sigh. Just when I was beginning to think things were finally turning around for the better. I hope it is dermatitis. He was in contact with so many people at a family gathering this weekend, including six month old twins.... And it's on his arm, which is a bit unusual.
There is an antiviral medication for shingles best taken at the beginning of the illness- in the US it's called
Valtrex. It is very effective and helps prevent post shingles complications.
Thanks Karenjaninaz. My son has been given the antiviral medication already just in case it is shingles. I, meanwhile, am starting to feel creepy all over.
Shingles is very painful, is he in pain
Chickenpox are very contagious, so I would be surprised that your kids had it and you did not get infected, unless you had it as a child. So my best guess would be that you had chickenpox as a child yourself.
As far as chickenpox vaccine, it is made from live but weakened virus and is not recommended for person with PMR and on pred.
I've had shingles 3 times and luckily it must have been mild cases. I know the vaccine only works for 60 percent of those who receive it. So I figured the way my odds have been I decided not to get it. 😏
I too have had shingles and when I asked my pharmacist about the shot she said it doesn't work on people that have already the shingles. It will help with the pain if you get it again but it won't keep you from getting it.
The line is:
Keep a close eye out for any symptoms and at the first suggestion of trouble go straight to the doctor and ask for antiviral medication. There is no point in taking it in advance (i.e. prophylactically). It doesn't work until the virus is active but then should shorten the course of the illness and make the symptoms less troublesome. Maybe your doctor would give you a prescription to get the drug if you need it - these things tend to happen at the weekend!
When did your son's symptoms appear? Is it a blister type rash? In shingles it is the fluid in the blisters which carries the virus - and apparently, I'm told, it is VERY unusual/difficult to catch CP from someone with shingles although theoretically it is possible. And, of course, you can't catch shingles from shingles. If the rash was not present on Sunday or was well covered with his sleeve for example, I doubt you have much to worry about. CP is a bit different as they are most infectious in the 24 hours BEFORE the rash starts to appear and the virus is also spread by sneezing. You are now on a pretty low dose of pred - you sholdn't have to worry too much about suppressed immune system I'd have thought.
There is a test to see if you have CP antibodies but I don't know how long it takes. It is often sent off to a specialist lab - so that adds to the time.
I've been told not to get the shingles vaccination when you have PMR, mainly I suppose due to your depressed immune system. I hop;e all goes well! Elinor
Thank you. As you say, often on the weekend! And we have the Labour Day weekend coming up which is really why I thought maybe I should do something now. But have decided to wait and see. It seems so unlikely that it is shingles, although the symptoms certainly match.
I was thinking more about whether I was a candidate for the chickenpox vaccine!
I do not think it would be recommended when you have PMR.?.?
Have decided to stop freaking out about this and let things unfold. It's more than likely a false alarm. Son is rather young for shingles, given our family resistance to the virus it seems unlikely he'd succumb to it in this way and the doctor wasn't sure anyway. Pictures on the internet show shingles in early stages looking nearly identical to rashes caused by poisonous plants! That being said, I think I'd rather have a CP shot if I'm not immune, than fullblown CP at my age, which could be lethal.
You probably have a very good record of your health as a child due to your father being a doctor. Since chickenpox is such a highly contagious disease, it is amazing that you didnt' get them as a child or when your kids had them. I had four children, one came home with chickenpox, and about ten days later, the first day of spring break, the other three all came down with it. They were so annoyed as it took their entire vacation away from them. I hope your son feels better soon, it is good that he does have the med just in case. Have a good day.
Live vaccines are not recommended when you are on pred - don't think PMR would make any difference. However, a study about the shingles vaccine says that there isn't a problem for lower doses of pred - and by that I think they meant under 10mg and it may have been higher. Needless to say - I can't find the study...
It is now flu vaccine time, since they do not use a live vaccine for this, I think it should be safe. Since our immune systems are not quite what they should be due to the prednisone, seems a good idea to be vaccinated. I have always gotten the flu vaccine, so will talk to the pharmacist. Any thoughts on this?
I've had the flu vaccine every year since I've lived here in Italy - I wasn't considered to qualify in the UK! No problems at all. My husband had bronchitis one year when it was due and forgot to go to get it later. He caught flu, spent the best part of 2 weeks in bed and totally miserable and ended up developing pneumonia which took about 6 months to clear. Needless to say - he hasn't forgotten since!
Thank you so much. Yes, I have gotten the flu vaccine for more years than I can even remember. When I was teaching, the school district for which I worked highly recommended and paid for all of us to get the vaccine. When I called my pharmacy yesterday to see if my methotrexate was ready for pickup, I got the reminder that it was flu vaccine time. When I pick up my prescription, I will get the vaccine. Thanks, Eileen. I did not know you lived in Italy, I thought you were in the UK. Are you anywhere near the earthquake site? Such a tragedy. I love Italy, the landscape, the people, and of course, the food.