Family member has shingles - can they visit DS?

[chocbutton]

Might be being paranoid here but just want to be sure - my dad is visiting us tomorrow and his wife has shingles. DS is 8 months old, not had any illnesses (yet) - is he at risk of catching chicken pox?? Shall I tell dad not to come??
By the way, dad's wife not coming, but could my dad bring 'shingles/CP germs' with him? I know this sounds ridiculous but I would hate to put DS at risk.

[WigWamBam]

You can catch chicken pox from shingles - it takes contact with the blisters though, so if his wife isn't coming then your dad isn't a risk.

[belgo]

has your dad had chicken pox? If not, then he is potentially as risk himself of catching it from his wife's shingles, then potentially he could transfer the chicken pox to your baby.

If he has had chicken pox before, then I don't think there's a risk, and he can visit, no problem.

[WigWamBam]

If he caught it, though, he could only give it to the baby if he had exposed blisters - he cannot carry the "germs" without having the shingle sores himself.

[WigWamBam]

Yep.

[cookiesandcream]

Your dad could be carrying chicken pox it is infectious before the blisters appear so if he hasn't had it he shouldn't come - his wife deinately should not come with shingles although it is only infectious until the blisters all crust.

[cookiesandcream]

Your dad could be carrying chicken pox it is infectious before the blisters appear so if he hasn't had it he shouldn't come - his wife deinately should not come with shingles although it is only infectious until the blisters all crust.

[Hulababy]

If dad's wife is coming - then yes, DS could catch CP from her, via contact with shingles.

IF dad only coming - has he had CP himself? If not, the dad could catc CP himself, and then pass it onto DS. If yes, then no, there should be no risk of him passing on CP to your DS.

Shingles cannot be "caught" or passed on.

[chocbutton]

thanks everyone, will check if he has had CP and if so will tell him not to come.

[chocbutton]

Just to let you know I checked with dad and he hasn't had CP, so we are postponing the visit just in case. Thanks everyone

[harrisey]

Not v likely to get cp under a year old (still have mums immunity) but I wouldnt risk it.

My 2 older kids got CP from my Gran's Shingles. Mind you it got it over with - dd1 was 3, ds was
just under 1 - all his 1st birthday piccies are VERY VERY spotty!

[mynameis]

Didn't realise that CP was rare under a year. My poor ds (20 months) had CP at 12 weeks AND shingles at 17months!

[Seona1973]

my ds had chicken pox at 6 months so it cant be that rare for under 1's.

[gess]

It's quite good to get cp early on- often milder if you've had it (still some immunity from you). Ds1 had cp when ds2 was 8 months old. DS2 didn't get it then, but it must have boosted his immunity as he was then exposed repeatedly at ursery and only eventually got it (mildly) 4 years later.

[gess]

oh but its not that infectious from shingles anyway. And that's only an issue if your dad's wife comes.

He'll be exposed as soon as he starts nursery anyway.