Wellness

[151949]

I would absolutely use hot water and bleach - they are only contagious though to someone who has never had chicken pox - is pregnant or immunosuppressed. And they are actually also only contagious in the beginning when they are liquidy and draining, unless the person is picking at the dry ones.

BTW - all fabric bleach will not disinfect anything. You need CHLORINE bleach.

[151949]

On 5/17/2014 GoodStuff said:

Just normal washing with detergent and hot water is fine. The vast majority of people have either had chicken pox (caused by the same herpes virus) or have had the chicken pox vaccine as a child -- so most people already have developed defense against this virus. You don't "catch" shingles from other people; shingles develops when the herpes virus which remains in the body after a case of chickenpox is reactivated years later to cause a shingles outbreak. The worst thing that can happen from coming into contact with someone with shingles is that someone who has not had chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine could come down with chicken pox.

Unfortunately, adult chicken pox is a very serious illness - i have cared for many patients in ICU who developed varicella pneumonia from adult chicken pox. You can die from adult chicken pox.

[MaeE]

Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles.

this might help..Good luck

[JKalso]

I had shingles, in my eye and on my face from CHEMO, it strictly

was from the chemo. No body EVER said to bleach sheets, EVER. Visitors had to be all covered, so I wouldn't catch something from THEM!!!!!!

[stilltamn8r]

Shingles is not contagious...

[mars01]

The herpes zoster virus is very fragile outside the host. It won't live outside the body in other words. It is transfer by sneezing or direct contact with an open sore to open sore. There will be no live virus on the sheets or pillow cases. If you have any further questions look on the CDC website about virus. Most virus are very fragile outside the host.

[Clover29]

The best way to top-up your immunity to shingles as an adult is to be around kids with chickenpox (as long as you have had chickenpox yourself. As already said, getting chickenpox as an adult is no picnic).

You can't catch shingles from someone's bedding any more than you can get pregnant from using a public restroom.

[pattypeep]

I've had shingles three times and washed my clothing and bedding the same as always. My dh never got shingles nor did anyone else that was near me.

[Reepicheepers]

On 5/17/2014 Skylands said:

On 5/17/2014 snappyfrappy said:

If it happened to me, I'd toss them just to be safe. As well the PJs or other bed clothing.

Totally unnecessary waste to toss the sheets out!

No special procedures are required to clean and decontaminate bed linens used by someone with herpes zoster. Linens can be washed normally.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7525344_care-bed-linens-herpes-zoster.html#ixzz320EUTofy

Thank you for being a voice of reason!

[151949]

On 5/17/2014 stilltamn8r said: Shingles is not contagious...

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox - you can't pass on shingles but you can give someone chicken pox.