Incubation period

Since shingles is not a disease of a new infection with the varicella zoster virus, but a reactivation of the viruses persisting in the body, no incubation period can be given. This is the time span between infection and disease. However, if a person becomes infected with the varicella zoster virus for the first time through contact with someone suffering from shingles or chickenpox, the latter usually develops the first signs of chickenpox after 14 to 16 days.

However, the incubation period can also be as short as 8 or as long as 28 days. In order to avoid the transmission of the virus in principle, the liquid-filled vesicles should not be opened. There is a danger of infection until all vesicles are dried out and have fallen off.

Risk of infection for babies

Contact with varicella zoster viruses poses a particular danger to newborns. If the mother falls ill with the infectious chickenpox during a certain period shortly before or shortly after the birth of the baby, the child is particularly at risk of becoming infected. Since the immature immune system of the baby cannot fend off the virus, very severe forms of the disease can occur, especially in children who fall ill between the fifth and tenth day of life.

The so-called severe neonatal varicella are fatal for the newborn in 30% of cases. For this reason, women who wish to have children, who have not yet contracted chickenpox or who do not have enough antibodies in their blood despite previous infection, are recommended a vaccination. This is the only way to prevent her from falling ill shortly before or after birth and infecting her child.

If the mother has enough antibodies in her blood as a result of a vaccination or a previous infection, she transmits them to her child via the placenta (placenta) and later via breast milk.So, through the so-called nest protection, the child is provided with maternal antibodies and is protected against the virus. However, these antibodies are broken down after a few months, until the protection finally ceases to exist. Once all maternal antibodies have been broken down, vaccination against the Varicella zoster virus should be carried out. This vaccination is recommended from the age of 11 months. If a baby comes into contact with the varicella zoster virus in the period before vaccination, for example through a smear infection with the vesicle contents of a person suffering from shingles, there is a risk of infection and subsequent illness from chickenpox.