teenager hasn't had chickenpox

[Lulu17]

My 3rd and youngest child is about to turn 13 next week. For some reason she has managed to escape Chicken Pox and now i'm worried that she is getting to an age where it good be far more serious if she doesn't get it soon. I moved from London to Nottingham 2 years ago so I don't know many people where I live. I have asked the junior school if they would contact me if and when a student goes off with chickenpox so I could possibly contact the parent to see if I could get my daughter round?? But the school have ignored me as they possibly think i'm just a weirdo?! Any advice? I really want her to get it as I know a few teenagers who have had it and it has turned into shingles and has been very painful.

[goshhhhhh]

I had chicken pox as a teenager and it was truly horrible but it is rate for it to have complications. You could think of vaccination but it does have limited effectiveness.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

If you're concerned, get her vaccinated. I got to my mid-30s without having had chicken pox, but got vaccinated when my DS was 1 year old.

[Sparklingbrook]

I had CP at 16 and it was really horrible but no complications.

[GasLightShining]

Had it at 17. Wasn't the best but as above no complications

[ParochialE9]

I had it aged 26 when 20 weeks pregnant with my first child, caught it from my niece who had one visible spot which looked like an insect bite so we didn't know she had it. Thankfully it was a me case and didn't affect my unborn son. Must have given him immunity though as he has never caught it even though younger brother and sister both had it badly at ages 4 and 2.

[Helenluvsrob]

Hmm. My 2 eldest Appear not yo have had c pox. I'm sure they have as dd1 was 2.5 when dh had it and they were all bath sharing age when dd2 had it .
Can't see how they escaped, I assume they had 2 spots and I didn't notice.

I don't think you can do much and inflicting it on a teenager doesn't sound like a good plan even if you find a child who's parents don't think you are bonkers !

Professionally I request tests of chicken pox immunity not infrequently and certainly more than 50% time they show as immune with no Pparent history of infection.

[ParochialE9]

Mild not me!

[PrincessHairyMclary]

I'm 29 and I've not had it yet despite both brothers getting it when we were younger and DD having it a couple of years ago. I assume I am immune I get cold sores often and have since I was a child I wonder as the viruses are related whether that has immunised me against CP.

It's a terrible idea to try and catch what. In rare circumstances can be a very dangerous illness. You also cannot get shingles if you have never had CP.

Why not just pay and get the vaccine instead?

[mayaknew]

She may be immune to it some people are. Myself DSis and Ddad all had it when I was young, my dad got a terrible dose it was awful. She never caught it.

She's been a teacher for the last 20 years and has still never caught it.

[boobyooby]

I managed to get to 38 without it (siblings and all my children caught it young) - thought I was on fire and quite poorly for a week, had to show the nurse as she wouldn't believe me but yup it was CP!

[chemenger]

I haven't had it and I'm in my 50's, both children had it. I assume I must have picked up a very mild case at some point which gave me immunity. I have had measles three times though, once horrible, once unpleasant and once barely noticeable.

[TommyandGina]

Ds had it last March, he was 6 weeks of being 13. It was horrible but no lasting damage, our friends were calamine lotion, e45 itch relief cream and piriton.

It could be that your dd has a natural immunity to it.

[MrsJayy]

Our health board rolled out the vaccine when dd2 was a toddler it only lasts 10 years apparently she caught them just before christmas at 17 she was miserable and had them everywhere . Your Dc might never get them though Dd wasnt any iller (not a word) than her sister who caught them at 8

[ExplodingCarrots]

I was 21 when I got CP. it was horrible but I was fine. Mum said I'd had them so I was cuddling a 6 year old family member who had CP not worrying about it ..then mum remembered it was my sister who had had CP and not me.

I was covered head to toe.

[bigTillyMint]

I had CP at 22 after my final Teaching Practice. My friend had it the year before - no idea where he caught it! He was covered head to toe, mine wasn't quite so bad, but I did feel crappy for a few days.

[jaykay34]

I have twin 13 year olds who have never had it, despite being in close contact with numerous cases during their lifetime.

[squeezed]

I haven't had Cp but was tested for immunity which I do have. Despite not having obvious symptoms it's possible to have it very mildly and then have the immunity.

[Rebecca1928374]

Scary I’m almost 18 and have never had chickenpox I’ve asked my family and they said I’ve never had it but my little brother has