Chicken Pox Immunity

Malini's picture
Posted April 20th, 2007 by Malini
in

Apparently, chicken pox is going around in schools, and a friend of mine just recently got shingles.  I'm wondering about the immunity to chicken pox or shingles.  I know at least for chicken pox, that once you've got it, you can't get it again... but does this include people who got a very very mild chicken pox? I got it when I was a few months old, and it was very mild according to my mother.  Is that enough for me not to get it again? What about shingles? I know if you had chicken pox, you're immune to shingles as well since it's the same virus... but I ask again, what if you had a mild case of chicken pox?  I would think that even if it was mild, you had that virus, therefore you are immune (and also could potentially get shingles), but I'm just not sure.  Does anyone know for sure?

 

Thanks

 

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zeus's picture
On April 20th, 2007 zeus said:

Malini,

I believe you are immune to chicken pox no matter how mild your case was.  So now worries there.

Shingles is a different story.  People who get chicken pox will always carry the varicella zoster virus in their system.  If the immune system gets weakened, this virus can reactivate and cause Shingles.  So people who got chicken pox are the one's at risk for shingles. 

Shingles is much more common among the elderly and those with autoimmune issues.  If you don't have an immune system issue you shouldn't worry about it.