Chicken pox & socialising?

[ImABeanBanana]

DC has mixed (I mean really mixed as in sharing everything, hugs, kisses, cutlery - before you assume they are just too quick sometimes!) with a child that has since come out in spots and definitely has chicken pox. I assume DC will get it as DC has never had it but I am aware of a couple of family members who seem to have been completely immune despite socialising with those who have had it and siblings that did. Do I stop DC socialising with other children/those with weakened immune systems for the next 10-21 days? How does it work? All the advice is very confusing and somewhat contradictory to what I know of being possible (getting it more than once, etc.)

When did your ds see then and when did the spots appear? It is only contagious for 1-2 days before the spots come out and until they scab over. Normally continue as usual until they show signs of being ill

It's usually 14 days between contact and spots so if you're being very cautious you could isolate DC from about day 10 (just before their most infectious days, assuming they have it). It depends when they had contact with the child though and won't be an exact science.

Most people just cross their fingers and carry on. My eldest mixed with infectious children twice at nursery and was fine. He eventually got it about a year later (swiftly followed by his brother exactly 14 days later!)

If he doesn't get it this time round I would have him immunised especially if he is around people with compromised immune systems on a regular basis.

It’s 2 days before the spots come out that you are infectious, and it’s 2-3 weeks after being exposed to them that if he’s caught them the first spots will appear.

You won’t know if he’s been infected until the spots come out. So if you went with the going into isolation idea after coming into contact with someone with chickenpox you could potentially always be in isolation....

The best thing to do is to keep him away from other people if he gets the spots, he should keep away from other people until the last spot is scabbed over and the scab is dry which is about 5-7 days.

So, there’s no need to keep him away from anyone unless he gets the spots, then keep him away from people until the last spot is scabbed over and the scab is dry not wet.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

It’s also rare to get them more than once, however some people are unfortunate and get them more than once.

I'd just get them vaccinated ASAP, protect them and everyone around them.

Where I live almost everyone is vaccinated and people with compromised immune systems have one less thing to worry about.

I’m very cautious about chickenpox BUT You can’t not go out for 21 days on the off chance. I wouldn’t go near anyone on chemo etc or newborns but otherwise I’d carry on as normal.

FWIW ds and his friend shared juice and everything at dd’s christening and that night his friend was covered in pox. Ds didn’t catch it.

When he eventually DID catch it I’ve no idea where he got it from - nobody in his class etc had it and nobody we know caught it from him except dd. It’s pretty unpredictable tbh I think he was more susceptible to it when he did catch it because he’d had ear infections and a tummy bug and slapped cheek just before (it was a fun couple of months!)

@drsausage I think it's probably too late to vaccinate - it's given in 3 doses isn't it?

Think it's 2 doses

It's not too late to vaccinate.

If they are already incubating chickenpox then a dose of the vaccine may help prevent or weaken the disease.

If they are not already incubating chickenpox then they should not get it in future, protecting themselves and everyone they come into contact with.

And yes, they should have two doses.

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/hcp-post-exposure.htm

The vaccine is 2 doses. The chicken pox vaccine isn’t routinely given in the UK because the symptoms are mild, it is however offered to non-immune healthcare workers and people who come into close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system. www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/

It’s £140 to buy the vaccine privately.

(That would be a price for both doses)