Today was my first day back to work (part time for the week). A coworker of mine has shingles and is working as he can...I've had chicken pox, but can I spread the virus to baby J since I've been in the office with this guy?!
**ETA** Baby J is only 6 weeks old
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
I would probably call your pedi and ask about the risk. Honestly someone with shingles should NOT be coming into the office...
coconut / 8279 posts
@MamaMoose: totally agree! I had shingles once and a co-worker (who I sometimes shared a desk with) was pregnant. I stayed out for over two weeks just to make sure I couldn't pass it to her.
coconut / 8854 posts
Yikes, that sounds SOOO dangerous for you and the baby! I mean even in my situation, I've never even had the chicken pox yet, and I'm sure there are some people in your office that haven't either. He could be infecting them.
kiwi / 658 posts
i would take all precautions and call your dr and ped! i agree, your coworker should not be risking others by coming into work.
squash / 13199 posts
Tha is really inconsiderate for him to come to work if he has shingles. Is he sure though because shingles is usually pretty bad and I dont know why he would feel good enough to come in.
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
@Mrsbells: That's a good point. One of my good friends got shingles and she was seriously out of commission until she was 100% recovered.
pomelo / 5178 posts
When I was pregnant with DS a co-worker came into the office with shingles. He wasn't even going to go to the doctor until his boss basically forced him to, and then he came back to work and refused to go home until the GM told him it was a violation of our personnel policies to knowingly expose others to disease. Sigh, some people...
Anyway, avoid this guy as much as possible. Wash your hands, use lots of sanitizer, all of that stuff. And maybe talk to your HR department about your concerns. It's a totally legit thing to complain about.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
Definitely talk to your pediatrician, but I think you are ok. According to the CDC, you have to touch the open wounds. It's not spread through the air like chicken pox. So, unless you touch the blisters and then touch your baby, I think you are fine.
coconut / 8279 posts
@Grace: hmm, I don't know about that. I had shingles and I definitely didn't know of anyone with it for me to catch it, let alone touch an open wound. I'm not sure how I got it but was told I was exposed to it when I was diagnosed.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I had it growing up and was stuck in the basement for 2 weeks until I was no longer contageous. I will say I gave it to my friend when she brought me some DQ treats and I rubbed my arm against hers (she wanted out of school too...stupid 10 year olds.) I was ableto transfer with a quick arm rub as my mom didn't let her stay for more than a minute or two.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@rachiecakes: Shingles is reactivation of virus that you had long ago.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
@rachiecakes: You can't catch shingles from someone. If you haven't had chicken pox, then touching the sores could cause you to get the varicella zoster virus. That causes chicken pox. After you get better, the virus is still there, just hiding dormant in your nervous system. Stress or illness can cause it to come out. Only this time it causes shingles.
If you have had chicken pox, you shouldn't catch it again from someone with shingles because you are immune to that virus.
Does that make sense? Here's a link if you want more (or if my ramblings make no sense). http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/shingles/fact_sheet.htm
coconut / 8279 posts
@Grace: ah! that makes sense, thanks 
I was superstressed and didn't eat for three days when I got it. I guess it was because coworker was pregnant that it was dangerous for me to work with her? (she was immune, her baby was not?)
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
@rachiecakes: Maybe she hadn't had the chickenpox before? Or wasn't sure. Or maybe she didn't know that you can't catch it twice. Or maybe she was just playing the better safe than sorry card. Who knows?
honeydew / 7504 posts
I don't know, but I do know that when we have a patient at the hospital with shingles, pregnant women are told not to go into the room, whether we've had chicken pox or not. I would definitely check with your OB.
nectarine / 2192 posts
There is nothing wrong with a coworker coming to the office with shingles as long as he feels well enough to work. It is not selfish as alluded to by PPs. As long as you have either had chicken pox OR avoid touching the rash, you're fine.
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