SOUTHINGTON — “Someone at our school has contracted shingles and your child may be at risk,” a warning from Southington Public Schools sent to families in town says.
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus as chickenpox. According to the Connecticut Department of Health, after a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems, but it can reappear years later, causing shingles.
“It is vital that parents of immunocompromised children (immunocompromised means having an immune system that has been impaired by a medical condition or treatment – i.e., HIV, cancer, leukemia, chemotherapy, organ transplant, etc.) contact their child’s physician immediately to ask if any precautions are necessary,” the school’s statement said. “If your child has not had chickenpox and/or has not been vaccinated, contact your child’s regular health-care provider as soon as possible to discuss the possible use of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for your child and /or to ask if any precautions are necessary.”
People are encouraged to ask the school nurse or their personal doctors any questions.