The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes shingles, a painful skin rash (1). It develops an itchy, painful rash across the torso, which might appear as a stripe of blisters around the sides of the chest and in the back. Shingles in babies are more likely to occur if the baby has already had a history of chickenpox, as the same virus causes both diseases. Continue reading this post to learn about shingles in infants, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. We also discuss a few home treatments that may help the infant feel better.
Is Shingles Contagious To Babies?
No. Shingles does not spread from one person to another (2). A baby will develop shingles only if they have been affected by chickenpox in the past, and the dormant zoster virus is reactivated due to weak immunity.
What Causes Shingles In Babies?
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is a pathogen that also causes chickenpox. When a baby suffers from chickenpox, the body’s immune system eliminates the virus and retains an antibody against future attacks. However, some viruses survive and remain dormant in the nerves of the spinal cord for the rest of the life, long after chickenpox is cured (3). The dormant varicella-zoster virus is kept in check by the immune system and never allowed to multiply. But when the immune system experiences suppression or its efficiency reduces, the virus strikes back, but with shingles. The virus invades nerve and skin cells causing red to dark pink blisters. Shingles is also known as zoster or herpes zoster. The zoster virus is different from the actual herpes virus but belongs to the same family of herpes simplex virus. Since the condition is triggered by the virus that causes chickenpox, babies who have had chickenpox are likely to develop it.
Are There Risk Factors For Shingles In Babies?
Besides chickenpox, the risk of shingles increases in the below scenarios (4):
Infants with AIDS and cancers Babies who had chickenpox before one year of age Newborns whose mothers suffered chickenpox in the third trimester
Both HIV and cancer bring down the efficiency of the immune system, invariably reactivating the zoster virus. Babies who suffer chickenpox early in life may not develop adequate antibodies to suppress the zoster virus. The same is the case with infants who are exposed to the virus during gestation. Shingles is quite uncommon in babies and most prevalent among the elderly (1). According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those above the age of 60 are at the highest risk of developing shingles, and 50% cases are reported from this age group (5). Though the overall risk of shingles is low in babies, it is essential to learn how to identify the condition.
Can You Prevent Shingles In Babies?
Yes. The disease is preventable. Here is how you can do that: The first shot is administered between the age of 12 and 15 months, and the booster shot is given between four and six years. The CDC states that the chickenpox vaccine is the best way to protect against the varicella-zoster virus (7). Avoid taking the baby to overcrowded places and wash their hands regularly to prevent contracting the virus through the oral route. Maintaining personal hygiene is perhaps the best way, beyond vaccination, to shield the baby from the zoster virus. There is also a vaccine for shingles, but medical experts and governmental agencies recommend it for adults older than 60 years (8). It is almost never given to babies as shingles does not cause problems among infants at the scale at which it does in the elderly. Exceptions could be made in the case of infants with immunosuppressive diseases. Prevention is better than cure. Yet, if you doubt that your baby has contracted shingles, look for the symptoms carefully.
What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles In Babies?
When suspecting shingles in infants, one must look for the following symptoms (9): The shingles rash dries, turns into scabs, and falls off nearly a month after the emergence of the early pimple-like rash stage. But don’t wait for the entire process. You must take the baby to a doctor right when the first rashes appear.
How Is Shingles In Babies Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of shingles in infants is straightforward and done in the following three steps (10): Medical history and visual examination: Doctors identify shingles by the appearance of the blister and its location on the body. Parents are asked if the baby suffered from chickenpox in the past or if the mother had chickenpox during pregnancy. If the diagnosis shows that the baby has shingles, the doctor suggests the treatment options.
How Is Shingles In Babies Treated?
There is no treatment for shingles as it is caused by a virus, and the only solution is to wait for the immune system to overpower it (11). Usually, healthy infants recover in a month from when the first symptoms show, without medications. In severe cases, the doctor might prescribe some medication to slow down virus replication and ease the symptoms. A pediatrician may prescribe the following medicines for shingles in babies (12):
Antiviral drugs: These medicines interfere with the virus’s ability to infect healthy cells and bring down the rate of proliferation. It creates an adequate window for the immune system to take charge.
Fever relievers: The doctor will prescribe acetaminophen and ibuprofen depending on the baby’s age and intensity of fever. No aspirin-like preparations should be given as they cause a complication called Reye’s syndrome. Image: iStock
Topical ointments: It helps reduce irritation and pain. If the baby finds touching the blister painful, the doctor may prescribe a spray version of the drug.
In any case, if your baby had chickenpox in the past, you should take additional steps to prevent contracting the zoster virus. You could also try a few home care tips and remedies to alleviate the symptoms of shingles.
Are There Any Home Remedies For Shingles In Babies?
Yes. These home remedies help alleviate discomfort and bring relief from irritation. They have been recommended by experts and pediatricians (13): If the baby is younger than six months, then consult a doctor before trying any home remedy.
If a healthy baby, who suffered from chickenpox in the past, is exposed to the zoster virus, they will not develop shingles as they are likely to have antibodies against the virus. Therefore, a baby suffers from shingles due to the re-activation of the dormant virus present within the body and not from exposure to the virus from another infected person.
Wash baby’s clothes separately. Do not mix the baby’s laundry with that of other family members. It can transmit the virus. Wash the baby’s clothes in antiseptic baby detergent and dry them in sunlight to disinfect them.
Use a pair of disposable medical gloves while applying ointments. Wear them every time before applying any ointment. Dispose of the gloves after use.
Wash hands thoroughly with a disinfectant handwash after attending to the baby. Also, clean up thoroughly every time you handle the baby’s personal items.
Restrict contact of the baby with sibling Cut down interactions between the baby and siblings until the little one is cured. This helps the zoster virus from spreading to healthy individuals at home.
Experts state that keeping the rash covered is perhaps all that is needed to control the spread of zoster virus through shingles. Therefore, ensure that the baby is dressed in a way that it covers the shingles blisters completely. But, make sure that the baby is wearing loose-fitting clothes.
A bit of extra care and caution could help prevent the condition in babies.
Postherpetic neuralgia: Even after the shingles blisters are long gone, the affected area would continue giving a tingling pain. It happens due to permanent damage to the nerve endings at the site of the rash.
Skin infection: Sometimes, a shingles rash could catch a bacterial infection causing severe damage to the skin cells and leading to an infection.
Loss of vision: If shingles happen around the eyes, the virus could cause collateral damage to the eyeballs and optical nerve, leading to a blurred vision or even a complete loss of eyesight.
Neurological problems: If there is severe nerve damage due to shingles on the face, then it can cause facial paralysis, loss of hearing, and encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the brain.
These complications are harsh but extremely rare among babies. They mostly affect infants who have a weakened immune system (12). Medicines are always mandatory for such infants, but not necessary for infants without any of these conditions. In any case, parents can mitigate the effects of shingles right at home.
