Shingles and HIV

Do NOT worry! This isn't accurate, it's a misrepresentation of the idea that people who get shingles may have a compromised immune system. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIV! I don't know the statistics but very few people with shingles are HIV positive. Just like if you're under stress, have had chemo or other underlying health conditions, you're more prone to develop other infections. That's all it means. Most people who I've come across in forums or groups who had shingles had been dealing with a lot of stress, other people just get it. Remember, no connection.

If you had chicken pox, the virus is dormant in your body, waiting to become active, so when you're vulnerable physically, it may manifest itself. Just like if you're run down, you may get a cold or pneumonia.

Dear Colleen,

Please do not worry. For the vast majority of individuals, it is waning immunity due to age and stress. On this forum, I have not had one person state he has HIV.

There are some conditions that make you more prone to having Herpes Zoster-Shingles including

Autoimmune diseases SLE, ITP, RA, Sjogrens, Psoriasis,

Cancer,

Taking Corticosteroids or Bioimmunologic medications

IBD.

Most of the time it is just aging.

I am sorry you are going through this, however.

Best Regards

Merry Juliana

Shingles is a form of herpes but I don’t think there’s a connection with HIV.  It certainly doesn’t take eight years to find out if you have shingles.  Merry Juliana will probably comment on this and she has a lot of clinical expertise.  I have never worried one minute about being HIV positive and don’t think you should either!