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Original poster

Someone remind me, can kids go to nursery with chicken pox?

32 replies

Paynefully · 15/10/2023 09:37

I have shingles, and my kids haven’t had chicken pox yet so I’m guessing they’re going to get it off me? They’re supposed to go to nursery tomorrow. Can’t I still send them or is it best not to? They haven’t got any spots yet I’m just preempting it. I obviously don’t want to make anyone at nursery poorly so I don’t really know what to do.

OP posts:
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 15/10/2023 09:39

They can't go once they have spots/you know they have them.

I don't know with shingles, but chicken pox takes 14 days to start showing on the next kid who has caught it so you would be keeping your children off nursery for 3 weeks if you do.

I send as normal until spots appear as they may not get them.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:39

They haven't got chicken pox yet so of course they can go in. It is also really unlikely for them to catch chicken pox from your shingles. They have to have direct contact with the fluid from your rash. It is not airborne like chicken pox is.

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:39

If they develop it they have to stay home until all the spots have formed scabs.

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OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:40

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:39

If they develop it they have to stay home until all the spots have formed scabs.

Edited

They haven't got any spots! They don't have chicken pox.

TheChosenTwo · 15/10/2023 09:41

When I had shingles and worked in a school
the doctor said I could work if I felt well enough as my spots were covered (under where my bra strap was around the left side of my back) and any fluid would be contained so not contagious.
I did feel well enough so I did continue working after I spoke to my head.

Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:42

They might not catch chickenpox from you, it's harder to catch chickenpox from shingles than it is to catch chickenpox from someone else with chickenpox.

If they come out in spots it's usually 10-21 days after exposure and they'll be contagious around 24-48 hours before spots appear (before you know they have it) until all of the spots have scabbed. Nurseries and schools excluded from when the spots appear until they've scabbed so you only need to keep them off if they start showing spots.

Original poster
Paynefully · 15/10/2023 09:42

Thanks all, I’ll send them in then. They haven’t got any spots but the shingles is on my eye so I can’t really keep to covered 🤧 feeling pretty sorry for myself really!

OP posts:
Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:43

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:40

They haven't got any spots! They don't have chicken pox.

Show quote history

That would be why it says "if"...

KateyCuckoo · 15/10/2023 09:44

Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:43

That would be why it says "if"...

Show quote history

Well it does now because the poster edited their comment.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:45

Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:43

That would be why it says "if"...

Show quote history

The original unedited post did not say that. If you click on the edited post above you will see what it originally said.

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:46

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits it’s not really unlikely - fluid from shingles is highly contagious and it can be very difficult to avoid with very young children when they’re all over you all the time.

AussieManque · 15/10/2023 09:47

Chickenpox is airborne too, not just spread by contact with sores.

Did you get your eye shingles looked at by a Dr? That's not a good place to have it, I hope you recover fully!

Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:48

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:45

The original unedited post did not say that. If you click on the edited post above you will see what it originally said.

Show quote history

I didn't realise it had been edited.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 09:50

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:46

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits it’s not really unlikely - fluid from shingles is highly contagious and it can be very difficult to avoid with very young children when they’re all over you all the time.

I have had shingles 3 times and have never passed chicken pox on to any of my kids. I don't know anyone else who has had shingles pass on chicken pox to their kids either. My GP said it is so rare for it to be passed on as well.

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:51

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits oh well if it never happened to you and a couple of your friends it must be impossible. My mistake!

Liloandswitch · 15/10/2023 09:52

No stay off for 5 days.

I'm pregnant and work in childcare.

Dontjudgeme101 · 15/10/2023 10:00

I wasn’t allowed to work when l had shingles. I work in a shop. It was covered up too. Would you be taking the children in?

viques · 15/10/2023 10:03

Just a reminder to anyone with elderly relatives to make sure they have had their shingles jab. Not all GP surgeries are proactive in promoting it.

KateyCuckoo · 15/10/2023 10:06

Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 09:48

I didn't realise it had been edited.

Show quote history

But it says Edited on the post... with a link to the original message....

SM4713 · 15/10/2023 10:06

OP- are you on zovirax yet? Have you seen your GP or Moorfields for the ocular shingles??? Why can't you wear an eye patch to cover it?

There is a chickenpox vaccine available privately in the UK. Its routine in many other countries.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 15/10/2023 10:10

MrsELB12 · 15/10/2023 09:51

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits oh well if it never happened to you and a couple of your friends it must be impossible. My mistake!

Where did I say it was "impossible"? I said highly unlikely.

Original poster
Paynefully · 15/10/2023 10:33

Yes I’ve been to out of hours yesterday and have antiviral tablets. It’s on my eyebrow and eyelid mostly and isn’t in my actual eye. I have been told to go back if I get any pain in my eye though. Hopefully it doesn’t go that far!

OP posts:
Iam4eels · 15/10/2023 19:22

KateyCuckoo · 15/10/2023 10:06

But it says Edited on the post... with a link to the original message....

Show quote history

Not at the time I started typing my reply it didn't.

Grushenka · 15/10/2023 19:25

I’d get the kids vaccinated if possible? I did my kid a few years ago as his brother got the worst scarring with it, cost £140 at the time

Lottie4 · 15/10/2023 20:17

I didn't catch shingles off my DF when he had them, despite previous close contact. Didn't get chicken pox. I think until they've got spots or showing signs of temperature or illness, they are find to go in.

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