I don’t want to go to in laws because of shingles

[Bobthebuildercanhefixit]

FIL recently had shingles, around 3 weeks ago. My DH thinks I’m overreacting but we have 2 small children (newborn and 18 months) who’ve not yet had chicken pox. I’m worried he might be infectious. We are meant to be going on Boxing Day and staying till after the weekend. I have a great relationship with ILs but anxious FIL is still contagious/infectious. Honest opinions please.

demented well, no but I hope he’ll shower and change his clothes during the duration of the 5 days we are there!

If you're really worried could you just go and visit on Christmas day or boxing day to minimise contact

Our two year old caught chicken pox from her dad's shingles. We think from touching his towel in the bathroom before we knew what was wrong with him.

I wouldn't really want to cart my newborn about for days. Maybe just stay home and start a new family christma tradition

*christmas

It’s a bit of a journey for one day and I know DH would like to spend more time there. DD1 would enjoy it also. Maybe I can travel with them and get the train back with baby the next day to minimise contact, then we still get to spend some time with them.

Thinking about it, I'd visit at some point over the Christmas period but not stay. Are they far from you?

My 5 month old baby caught CP when I had shingles. Absolutely no direct contact between my rash and the baby obvs. My rash never oozed or wept. I had no idea what it was and lucky a nice pharmacist suggested it needed looking at by a Dr. I got seen early enough to have the anti virals. Dr checked with Pediatrician at the hospital who said nothing to worry about for baby. I was very careful with hygiene, hand washing, everything, we don’t share towels anyway but with any material such as clothes bedding etc. Despite doing everything I could and being reassured by Drs he still came down with CP. Fortunately he wasn’t poorly with it and was fine, but still goes to show it can happen even when you are being super cautious.

Sounds like a plan. Would your dh be ok with that?

the baby would have to touch the rash when it was wet . 3 weeks in it will be fine.

You can't minimise contact really by staying less time, either go or not at all. The risk of contracting cp from shingles is very low compared with from cp. Your nb is far more likely to catch it from your toddler, especially if they go to nursery or preschool groups.

Of course staying for less time will minimise contact. OP may feel more comfortable by showing face and then leaving earlier.

I would have thought that the 18 month old was more likely than baby to catch it and once 18 month old has it the baby is likely to catch it from 18 month old. I would either all go and risk it, or just dh go. Could he ask a pharmacist tomorrow to look at it and say whether it looks dried up? Ours pops out of the shop to look at rashes etc.

I would definitely avoid! My daughter caught chicken pox from my husband's shingles at 7 months old. We even moved in with my parents as soon as we noticed he had it and she still caught it. I now have another daughter (currently 5 months) and I just wouldn't risk it personally.