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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to carry on as normal if I know my DC has been exposed to chicken pox...

16 replies

whoneedssleepanyway · 14/04/2011 10:58

This is probably more of a WWYD than AIBU but wanted to get a few opinions.

DD2 (20 months) went to nursery all day last Friday. On Saturday evening I had a text from my friend whose little girl was at nursery in the same room all day with DD2 the previous day saying her DD had come down with chicken pox.

So DD2 was exposed to chicken pox all day on the Friday, at the most contagious point (day before rash appears).

So now we have 2 to 3 weeks before we know if DD2 will get it.

What do I do? Is it pretty much a foregone conclusion that she will get it and therefore around day 14 I should keep her away from other kids as she will potentially be very contagious as that point?

I have a nephew with health problems that we are due to see Easter weekend which will be 2 weeks since the exposure, if she hasn't had it by that point I am thinking she could get it any day so I will definitely keep her away from him just in case.

I am thinking people normally don't know their child has been exposed as the risky point is before you are aware that the child has chicken pox but as I know about it am I selfish if I just go on with life as normal until she develops symptoms?

OP posts:

HerbWoman · 14/04/2011 11:03

Neither of mine have had chicken pox, despite it going round playgroup several times. If I'd hidden them away for 3 weeks each time, we'd have been out of action for several months altogether for no reason. YANBU to keep going as normal, although I do agree with you about staying away from your nephew at Easter.

Hulababy · 14/04/2011 11:04

Yes, I would be tempted to keep her away from your nephew if e has a health condition.

But there is no guarantee your DD will get it. Many children can be exposed to cp several times and not get it. So I wouldn't put your life on hold tbh.

Seabright · 14/04/2011 11:06

Agree that you should carry on as normal, but give special consideration if you are around or could be around anyone with compromised immune systems or other medical problems that could be adversely affected by CP

bubblecoral · 14/04/2011 11:07

I'd carry on as normal, it's not a certainty that your dd will have it. I'd speak to your nephew's Mum, and possibly keep your dd away from him just in case.

abbierhodes · 14/04/2011 11:11

I'd keep away from your nephew, and anyone else who is at more of a risk if they do catch it. But otherwise I'd carry on as normal.
Could you put the meeting with your nephew back by a week? If she hasn't developed it by 3 weeks after exposure, she's probably safe. I've found it to be pretty much 2 weeks on the dot.

HeadfirstForHalos · 14/04/2011 11:22

Tell the parents of the nephew the situation and let them decide.

As for anything else, I would carry on as normal, unless she started showing signs of becoming unwell(unusually grumpy/tired etc) as you don't even know she will get it.

PlopPlopPing · 14/04/2011 11:23

Keep away from the nephew definately.

Megatron · 14/04/2011 12:16

I would keep away from nephew but otherwise carry on as normal. I think my DD may have it today - she has developed about 6 spots over the last 5 hours and it's going round her nursery so I'm sure it must be.

minipie · 14/04/2011 12:35

Carry on as normal BUT do mention to everyone you are going to see that DD may have chickenpox and so up to them if they want to take the risk or not.

Definitely tell the nephew's parents, but I would tell everyone else as well. You never know who might have health conditions they haven't told you about, or be pregnant.

(Obviously I only mean you should tell people that DD is actually going to come into contact with at her possibly infectious stage, not everyone in the supermarket etc!)

stoatie · 14/04/2011 12:44

As others have said - keep away from nephew, but no way of telling. I didn't get CP til I was 18 (had been exposed loads of times) and was v ill. My daughter didn't get CP when she was at nursery, but when son got it at 3 she got it exactly 2 weeks later (then aged 7)

sfxmum · 14/04/2011 12:46

I would err on the side of caution with nephew but otherwise carry on as normal, dd was exposed countless times for at least 3 years before she eventually got it

thebody · 14/04/2011 12:46

amazing just how children DONT actually pick up chicken pox after exposure. you never can tell... agree keep away from nephew but carry on otherwise..

GiddyPickle · 14/04/2011 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 14/04/2011 13:00

I would definitely avoid anyone who was otherwise compromised (so wouldn't visit any elderly people, or those with babies). I wouldn't go to any toddler groups (likely to be pregnant mums) and I would tell your nephews parents and let them decide if they are OK with it or not.

I'd avoid public transport/supermarket/doctors surgery etc - basically as many places as I could without making us housebound.

DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason · 14/04/2011 13:02

Carry on as usual but try, within reason, to avoid anyone with compromised immunity and tell parents of any young children you visit.

rickymummy · 14/04/2011 14:12

same as above - my DS1 was exposed at least 6 times before he got it. DS2 caught it at 4 months, on his first exposure. You just have to carry on as normal, but I would let parents know if a child has health problems.

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