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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not stay in all day with a 5yo who has chicken pox

139 replies

lecce · 28/08/2012 12:13

Just that really. His spots first appeared about 3 days ago and have not all blistered over yet. He is perfectly well in himself but getting bored and fed up having stayed in for 2 days.

OP posts:
LollipopViolet · 28/08/2012 14:49

I had chicken pox at 21 (last year).

It was around easter when we had all that lovely sun. I was told by GP I wasn't to go outside and was on anti-virals. I felt horrible as my friend was approx 6 months pregnant and I'd seen her 4 days before the spots appeared.

When I went to the GP I was isolated (not allowed in main waiting room) and had to hang back at a pedestrian crossing as there was a lady with tiny baby there.

It's horrible, but unfortunately you just have to stay in, you can't risk someone getting it whose immune system can't fight it.

bobbledunk · 28/08/2012 14:56

It could result in another child's family losing out on their first holiday in years, or worse a pregnant woman losing her baby or a cancer patient their life. Incredibly selfish risk to take with other peoples lives just because you don't like being cooped up.

Would you not get a few dvds, loads of chocolate, cake, crisps and have a few lazy days with him? Or have a chicken pox party with the children of parents who are happy for their kids to have early exposure?

It's only a few more days, not worth risking other peoples lives over.

DigestivesWithPhiladelphia · 28/08/2012 14:56

I had to take DS to the Dr with chicken pox (as he was very ill and would not eat or drink) - I stood outside in the car park and phoned reception on my mobile and asked them to call me when our apt was free. That way, at least we didn't sit in a busy waiting room. I would rather not have taken him in at all but when I phoned the surgery they asked me to bring him in to see the GP.

tethersend · 28/08/2012 14:56

biglips, I was researching the CP vaccine before giving it to DD1 and I came across it. Captain Google in other words Wink

The reasons given for not routinely vaccinating children against CP were shingles and cost. A shingles vaccine being available suggests that the only reason not to is cost.

DeathMetalMum · 28/08/2012 15:03

It is only a risk to pregnant women who do not have the immunity which is rare. I know this because dd had chicken pox two weeks ago and I am in my first trimester. I had to have a blood check to check for immunity, if that came back as action needed I would have had some injections. Luckily it was fine.

I was told by the doctor not to take dd to nursery or playgroup but that was it. I did keep her in mostly we went to my mums one day as we live in a flat and only have a small communial garden. We also had plenty of visits. Luckily her spots crusted pver pretty quickly, if it had gone on any loger I would have probably taken her out but somewhere I know there are not a lot of or no people.

Liketochat1 · 28/08/2012 15:06

Is it really that big a deal to stay indoors for a few days and spare the rest of us the risk of infection? Yabu

iismum · 28/08/2012 15:11

I can't understand why they don't routinely give chicken pox vaccinations. They do in a lot of other countries.

Floggingmolly · 28/08/2012 15:18

It's a risk to anyone with compromised immunity, DeathMetalMum. That covers a lot more than pregnant women - cancer patients, very young or old people, people who are already ill with something unrelated.
Please stop spreading your ignorance on the Internet under the guise of "fact".
Catching Chickenpox could have a catastrophic effect on some people.

MagdalenaAlec · 28/08/2012 15:24

Re the CP vaccine: I am in NY and it is mandatory for children before they enroll in kindergarten or schools. My DS was administered some kind of Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella massive chemical weapon vaccine at 12 months.

dikkertjedap · 28/08/2012 15:45

Chickenpox is dangerous for lots of people. For example, all those (young and old) taking prednisolone (used for severe asthma etc.). If you are on prednisolone the leaflet will actually tell you to make your way to the nearest A&E immediately if you THINK that you MAY have been exposed to chickenpox. This is before you show any signs ... CP exposure can quickly result in a life threatening emergency when you are on high dose steroids because these steroids suppress your immune system.

Lots of people (young and old) are on high doses of steroids every day.

The GP who told one of the posters not to bother as most exposure of chickenpox occurs before people realise, should be reported IMO as he seems pretty ignorant.

DayShiftDoris · 28/08/2012 17:45

I stayed in for 2 days after my son vomited... once...

Over-cautious I may well be but I don't like the thought of causing someone pain / illness when I didn't have too.

Though I once was involved in contact tracing over 100 people for CP and I have seen D&V shut a hospital down for WEEKS.

That all said - I left my son with my dad when he had CP - he took him to a SUPERMARKET because I did not specifically say he couldnt... Angry

OP seems to have been genuinely asking and has decided to stay in...

Two weeks we were in - spots didnt stop appearing for 9 days - hope not the same story for you

WildWorld2004 · 28/08/2012 20:08

All my dd wanted to do when she had chicken pox was lie on the sofa eat rubbish & watch endless dvds for two weeks.

I wouldnt go anywhere. You will just have to entertain him.

Socknickingpixie · 28/08/2012 20:22

deathmetalmum every single time ive been pregnant i havent been immune im still not now, i once had a midwife tell me i must be as anybody with the ammount of children i have couldnt possibly not be. blood test later opps she said your not.

LivingThings · 28/08/2012 21:04

I used to take #1 and scooter to a forest park and walk round the trails (never saw another soul) - kept them entertained and got some exercise too. They had scabbed over within a week and then were back to nursery and normal interaction.

WilsonFrickett · 28/08/2012 21:39

To the people who say MN doesnt reflect RL on this... It doesn't. People in RL just aren't very educated about the risks and sometimes treat life as one giant chickenpox party. But that doesn't mean they are right. There's a MN-er who lost a child due to cp (from memory she was immuno-suppressed). I learned from her story and would never knowingly take a child of mine out with cp now. That risk - tiny though it may be - just isn't worth taking.

Hulababy · 28/08/2012 21:48

Our GP surgery says you should not attend the surgery if you or your child has chicken pox, and most certainly not go in the waiting room. If necessary they will arrange a home visit for emergencies/things that can't wait.

Shopping - arrange a home delivery or ask a neighbour.friend to bring yiu in some essentials.

Most things can be rearranged. Might not be easy - but easier than putting some vunerable person's health at risk.

GhostShip · 28/08/2012 21:53

Educate yourself.

tethersend · 28/08/2012 22:12

Out of interest, if the CP vaccine were available on the NHS, would you give it to your DC?

I ask because many people seem cautious wrt risks of spreading CP, but I've not come across many people who think the vaccine should be added to the schedule...

Bunnyjo · 28/08/2012 22:13

OP - I am glad you have realised YABU and will keep your DS at home until he is no longer infectious as I was going to shout like a screaming harpie, otherwise.

I am one of those lucky people who doesn't build sufficient immunity to cp and, for whom, the vaccine wouldn't work. I contracted cp when 12wk pg and suffered a horrendous mc - was rushed in, theatre put on standby and nurses/obstetricians were literally packing my nether regions trying to stem the flow of blood, whilst DH signed the consent forms for emergency surgery. Personally, I would rather you suffered a few days inconvenience, than someone like me or an immunosuppressed person did...

The consequences for a few, albeit a small number of people, can be fatal and it isn't worth the risk.

HeadfirstOverTheHighJump · 28/08/2012 22:14

The majority of us have to do the boring stuck at home with a chicken pox riddled child. I've done it on four occasions, whilst begging and pleading with grandparents/neighbours/ friends to help get the other dc to school.

Suck it up, it will be over in a few days.

ScariestFairyByFar · 28/08/2012 22:18

Not read all posts but nhs website says your fine after 5 days

BikeRunSki · 28/08/2012 22:19

A few weeks ago I stayed in for 2 weeks for DS's CP, then 2 weeks with his bronchitis, then 2 weeks with DD's CP, then 2 weeks with her bronchitis. 2 days - nothing! In between, I put them both in car and drove 4 hours without a break to my mother's to get some respite. Once there, we stayed in in her house instead. It was a horrible time, but had to be done.

Last year I went ballistic at work when a girl brought in her DD with CP when I was obviously pg, but also knew about someone who was also pg but had not yet come out and was not obvious.

tethersend · 28/08/2012 22:22

Oh bunny Sad Are you ok now? That's awful.

If children were routinely vaccinated, you would be less likely to come into contact with CP, even though the vaccine wouldn't work on you... Or have I got that wrong?

msnaughty · 28/08/2012 22:23

i dont think its as simple as just stay in. what about food. or getting the other children to school.

i would not take my childre to a park or soft play. but i might let them go round the block on their bikes or something.

also i think spots are contagouse before they come out,

startwig1982 · 28/08/2012 22:28

I stayed in for a week with DS. Drive me potty but it was necessary. We did go for a couple of walks in some isolated fields near us but nothing else.