Shingles: How to Care for Your Child

The shingles rash can be painful. Home care and, in some cases, medication can help make your child more comfortable.

Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. It only occurs in people who have had chickenpox or, rarely, the chickenpox vaccine. Once it is in the body, the virus stays there quietly but may reactivate later as shingles.

Symptoms of shingles can include tingling, itching, or pain followed by a red rash, usually on the face or trunk. Blisters develop, then crust over in about 7–10 days, and clear up completely in 2–3 weeks.

Most kids have a mild illness and get better on their own, but children who are at risk of more severe illness, such as those with weakened immune systems, may be given antiviral medicine.

• Give your child any prescribed medicines as instructed.

• Medication may relieve discomfort and help your child feel better:

  • For children under 6 months, you may give acetaminophen as instructed.

  • For children over 6 months, you may give acetaminophen OR ibuprofen as instructed, if recommended by your health care provider.

• Do not give aspirin to your child or teen as it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

• Instruct your child not to scratch the blisters, which could lead to infection. Trim your child's fingernails to discourage scratching.

• Let your child rest as much as needed.

• Encourage drinking plenty of liquids.

• To help relieve itching and remove drainage, apply cool, wet compresses to the rash for 15–30 minutes several times a day.

• Oatmeal bath products and calamine lotion can also relieve itching.

• Others should avoid touching the rash.

• If the blisters cannot be covered, your child should not attend school or other activities until cleared by the health care provider.

• Your child should avoid contact with pregnant women, newborns, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

• Covering the blisters can help decrease the chance of spreading the virus to others.

• Your child has pain that is not relieved by the treatment recommended.

• Your child develops redness, swelling, or warmth of the skin, or if you notice pus.

• The rash gets close to an eye.

Your child:

• Develops hearing problems or weakness of the face.

• Has trouble swallowing or speaking.

• Has eye pain, blurred vision, or trouble looking at bright lights.

• Becomes confused or starts acting strangely.

• Has a severe headache.

Someone who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine can develop chickenpox after being exposed to someone with shingles. Once the blisters crust over, there's no longer a risk of passing chickenpox to others.