do i take my DS to party if children with chiken pox are there

[supersonic]

It is my cousins birthday tomorrow and we are all invited but her niece who lives at the house has chicken pox (started yesterday) my DD is nearly 6 and has had them mildly a couple of years ago but has since been exposed several times and seems immune however my DS who is 1 has not had them yet and I am not sure whether I should deliberately expose him - the other point is we are due to go on holiday on the 29/6 and i understand we cannot fly - what woudl you all do ?

[hana]

am not sure that they should be having the party at all? I can't remember about the contagious time frames for chicken pox, maybe someone else can help out

[belgo]

I wouldn't expose him to chicken pox; It can take three weeks to develop , which could mean he has them just in time for your holiday, and he wouldn't be allowed on the flight.

[tortoiseSHELL]

It depends whether you want your ds to have it - it's a good age to have it, but would be a pain on holiday. Your niece will still be contagious - it is one day before to 5 days afterwards. I think I wouldn't go because of the holiday, but wouldn't worry about your ds having it at some other time!

[zephyrcat]

If it only started yesterday then it is almost certainly still at it's most contagious nad really, it's a bit unfairof them to be having the party - I hope they warn everyone in advance!!

If your ds was to pick it up, it can take upto 3 weeks for it to show in him so would def spoil your holiday... stay away!!!!

[supersonic]

thank you all for your opinions - I thought that the time frame was max of 2 weeks from exposure - My cousin has contacted us all and informed everyone that her niece has chicken pox but because she lives at the house as well it seems unfair to cancel when some children who are going have had c/pox so will not be affected.
We worked it out that on a two week time frame we woudl have a week to spare before th holiday for but if it is 3 weeks then he could get it the week we go and I dont want to spoil the holiday for everyone. can anyone def. confirm the timescale is 3 weeks and not 2?

[belgo]

the time frame can be up to four weeks from exposure, but in a lot of cases it's ten to twenty days. So the timescale is between 10 days and four weeks to confirm it for you.

Really not worth the risk. He'll have planty of chance to catch it later when he's older.

[belgo]

this link says 10 days to 21 days:

www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/chickenpox/fact_sheet.htm

you have to copy and paste because I can't do the link because dh has changed my keyboard

[belgo]

also there are sometimes (rarely) complications which could make the child ill for longer.

[tortoiseSHELL]

Kerrymum - I think that was what they always used to say - current advice is for 5 days after the first spot appears.

[Polgara2]

Some children suffer more than others - dd1 had it really, really bad, the illest I've ever seen her. DD2 not half as bad. I know it is better to have it in childhood (having had it as a adult and NOT being very impressed!) but I would never knowingly expose any child to it.

[MrsBond]

My DS is 14 months and has just had CP this week. He was totally miserable... had fever, was mega grumpy, wouldn't eat (he had some on his tongue) and we had two TERRIBLE nights sleep at the beginning.

IMO would have been much worse if we were away from home. At least at home they have their own cot/toys for comfort.

Incubation is 10 day - 3 weeks. They are contagious from a few days before spots until ALL scabbed over.

Also where are you going on holiday? My DS looked V spotty so we had to avoid places with other children - parks/playground/swim pool etc... Other people won't want you to get too close!

I'd try and avoid it. It's good to get it young - but not on a holiday.

[handlemecarefully]

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=97 - ah but Kerrysmum, NHS Direct say up to roughly 5 days after...

Supersonic - why not just take dd to the party but leave ds at home with dh / dp? If he is only 1 it is not as if he is going to be that bothered?

[star1976]

If you weren't going on holiday I would say expose him, to get it over and done with, but not worth ruining a holiday for!

[LIZS]

Thin it is most commonly around 2 weeks but can be up to 3. Not worth the risk , he might get it badly and still feel rough. agree with hmc , take dd and leave ds (she can't "carry" it if she has had it and chances of getting it twice are lsim.

[tortoiseSHELL]

Are you in the states Kerrymum? THe NHS says there are no reported cases of transmission after 5 days! That's an interesting article though.