Chicken pox three times

[majormoo]

We've had to pick my daughter up from nursery today as she has chicken pox-for the THIRD time. Is this possible? She isn't even 2 until August! She first had it about a year ago, then a month ago. Both times it was very mild. This time she has more spots. All the sites I have looked at say you only get it once. We cannot get her into the doctors to check with them. Has anyone else had this?

[Mud]

yes especially if mild first time - hopefully this time will confer immunity

[SaintGeorge]

Don't bank on her getting immunity (sorry).

I have had it loads of times. Escaped it until I was 8 and then had quite a bad dose. Stop counting when I caught it for the 7th time when I was 25. I am now quite useful as a chicken pox detector though - stick me near a kid with a suspected infection and if it is CP, I come out in hives.

[tiny01]

yes our ds had it three times as well. I couldnt believe it. Same as you first time was very mild when he was under 1, second time was quite bad so I was very supprised he got it again when he was three. I never heard of it either. He is now five and it hasnt resurfaced again thank god. Saintgorge I cant believe you had it 7 times thats really bad luck..

[SaintGeorge]

Oh I just stopped counting at 7 - had it loads more times than that. Dead lucky I am

[Toothache]

Once you have had chicken pox once the virus lies dormant within your system... like a cold sore.

Usually your immune system is perfectly capable of keeping it a bay, but at times of lowered immunity it can resurface over and over again. So although you can have immunity to it, that doesn't mean you won't have symptoms again. It's locked away in your body forever and ever. It can resurface as Shingles, which is really nasty.