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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not stay at my mums cause she has shingles

18 replies

peacefuloptimist · 27/12/2012 19:12

Im visiting my mum at the moment as she is unwell. The plan was to stay until Sunday but she went to the gp today and we found out she has something called shingles. My issue is I have brought my 4 month old ds with me and I'm worried he may catch it. The doctor told my mum it's infectious but can only be caught from skin contact with the infected area but I'm nervous still. When I told my mum I might go back today she got really offended and upset
She is really unwell and does need the help so I feel guilty but at the same time if my ds catches it I'm screwed. Aibu to want to do a runner.

OP posts:

cocolepew · 27/12/2012 19:14

She could catch chickenpox from it.

Poor mum, shingles are awful.

cocolepew · 27/12/2012 19:15

Only from the rash or her saliva though.

meddie · 27/12/2012 19:18

its infectious until the spots dry up and crust over. You cant catch shingles, but you can catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles but only by direct skin contact. it depends where your mums spots are. If they are on her body and covered up then that will offer some protection, also washing hands after having contact with your mum and obviously not letting her hold your baby as he will be at risk of getting chickenpox.
Its a rotten illness that can leave older people wiped out and can be incredibly painful too..

mum11970 · 27/12/2012 19:24

My youngest had shingles when he was 3 and wasn't particularly unwell with it. I was putting cream on his blisters and obviously had as much contact as anyone's going to get with him and no one else in the family caught it.

peaceandlovebunny · 27/12/2012 19:24

she has bugs. keep away.

RooneyMara · 27/12/2012 19:26

Yanbu, but I can see the difficulty if she needs your help - is there no one else who can step in?

If your ds gets chicken pox at 4 months it won't be easy, so you need to keep him away from anything she has used, like towels, cups, anything in contact with the rash and so on.

It's really not ideal - she should not be offended, if ds becomes ill you'll have to leave anyway, so it doesn't do her any favours.

I'd be looking for someone else to come and stay with her - or try and drop in yourself without ds if you live near enough, but don't stay with him unless you really have to.

FannyFifer · 27/12/2012 19:29

Where are the blisters?

3littlefrogs · 27/12/2012 19:32

mum11970 - that is because you cannot catch shingles. You catch chicken pox from someone who has shingles, if you are not immune to the chicken pox virus.

I would not take my baby anywhere near someone who had shingles.

peacefuloptimist - you need to weigh up the risks. If your baby is not immune to chicken pox I would not risk it.

3littlefrogs · 27/12/2012 19:34

DS1 caught chicken pox at the age of 3 years. He was very seriously ill for 3 weeks. So bad he was almost hospitalised. They didn't have an isolation room for him, so couldn't admit him.

Original poster

peacefuloptimist · 27/12/2012 19:44

My mum has it on her back and tummy. She has already been holding him and we haven't taken precautions to keep him away from her bedsheets, clothes etc. They have not dried up yet. We have all had cchicken pie except him. How can I protect him now?

OP posts:

3littlefrogs · 27/12/2012 19:51

All you can do is remove him from the situation and keep a close eye on him. I don't know if it is worth considering vaccination.

meddie · 27/12/2012 19:52

If you havent had direct skin contact then hopefully he should not catch them, but I would avoid her holding him as she may have touched her spots.
If he has already been exposed to the virus then their is very little you can do. The incubation period for chickenpox is around 2 weeks on average.
Ar you Breastfeeding at all, as it is unusual (though not impossible)for a baby to catch chickenpox under 1 as they have some immunity from their mothers antibodies.

dayshiftdoris · 27/12/2012 19:57

Ok don't panic

Shingles can not be caught but it sheds Chicken Pox virus so he may catch this

The Health Protection Agency advise that children / adults can go to work / school with Shingles as long as it is covered as the risk of catching it are minimal.

Shingles, unlike chicken pox is contained to one area and usually in a place normally covered my clothes... I would say that with good handwashing, separate towels, no kissing and mum getting changing in her bedroom away from you guys you 'might' escape it.

Are you breast feeding? If so then he might get some immunity.

Is he normally a well child? Does he have any chronic conditions? If he has had steroids in the last month-6wks I would seek advice from a GP ASAP as chicken pox can be very bad for children who have had steroids recently.

4mo is little to get chicken pox and there is no telling how bad he might get it... however the risk of him catching it from your mum is possibly less than if he had come in contact with a child on a bus who was about to erupt in spots.
Plus he's been in contact already - taking him away may not stop him getting it and most children cope well with chicken pox, even this young.

If you are really unsure and for really specific advice I would definitely call NHS direct - they will be able to take a history on your little one and give really sensible advice.

meddie · 27/12/2012 19:58

good hygiene is very important at the moment to protect your baby. Wash your hands before contact with him, a hand gel would also be useful.
If he has the virus he will get generally unwell a few days before the spots are due to appear, maybe slight temp , grizzly and off his food. so that will be about 10 days from exposure.
On a side note. If he has contacted it, he himself will be infectious before the spots appear and up until the spots dry up and crust over so it might be worthwhile keeping him away from other babies, any pregnant women and anyone who has a weak immune system (ie people having chemotherapy etc)

Original poster

peacefuloptimist · 27/12/2012 21:02

Thank you so much for all your advice especially dayshiftdoris. I've decided to stay at least for today. Changed all sheets and am keeping him away from mum. I feel guilty cause I want to help her but with ds so young he is also very needy. Oh well hopefully he won't have caught anything but will keep an eye on it.

OP posts:

Original poster

peacefuloptimist · 27/12/2012 21:18

OP posts:

Footface · 27/12/2012 21:40

My ds2 caught chicken pox at 5 weeks from his 2 year old brother. He was fine and coped really well. I'm not saying its great if he catches it but try not to worry to much

oldpeculiar · 27/12/2012 21:56

One of my DC got CP at 4.5 month from her brother and it was very very mild.In the nursery I used to work in (as a student in holidays) babies under 6m often caught cp from the older ones, never any problems AFAIK

The rule of thumb with CP is the younger the better.

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