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AIBU?

to get DS chicken pox on purpose

90 replies

blowsygirl · 07/03/2014 15:10

DS is 4.6 in a small nursery. All the other kids have had it earlier. I know it's going round at the moment, so would I be wise and reasonable to take him to a large soft play place and hope he catches it?

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hackmum · 08/03/2014 12:32

"Why would you deliberately do that?"

The reason you'd deliberately do it is to get it over with when they're young when it's probably going to be mild, rather than risk having them catch it when they're adult, when it's probably going to be really nasty.

It's about taking a calculated risk, like so many other things in life. You can't eliminate risk altogether, you can only do what you think is best for your child.

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sashh · 08/03/2014 12:36

The chance of your natural immunity waning is less than the chance of the immunity from the vaccine waning

Have you got any figures for that?

Oh and as 'natural' immunity is not 100% effective you still have no idea whether it is waning, still exists or has completely waned, as I said, you have no idea.

Surely if a) the disease is worse in adults (I know you didn't say that but you implied it), b) the vaccine is not as effective in adults and c) you can get to adulthood without contracting CP then you should be pro giving the vaccine?

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ThatBloodyWoman · 08/03/2014 12:37

I hadn't heard if the jab when mine got cp, and that was only about 6 years ago.

I would have looked into it had I known, but tbh, I don't think I'd have done it.
Probably couldn't afford it, and vaccinations can have side effects too.

hackmum is right about calculated risk imo.

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blowsygirl · 08/03/2014 12:38

MrsJay i can't see how licking a germ-ridden floor to get D&V is remotely similar to exposing DS to chicken pox! Had I decided to expose him to it deliberately, it would not have been because it suited me, but rather because I thought it was best for him to have it young rather than old. Although as per my above post, now that I know there is a vaccine I will not need to consider it.

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wobblyweebles · 08/03/2014 12:41

If we are talking calculated risk I would go worth the risk of a vax side effect over the risk of hospitalisation or death from cp.

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ThatBloodyWoman · 08/03/2014 12:51

Genuine question.

Those of you who are against deliberate exposure,how far do you go to avoid accidental exposure (if you haven't vaccinated) and do you expect that at some point exposure will happen?

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indigo18 · 08/03/2014 13:39

I would think avoiding accidental exposure is impossible, unless you keep child isolated. it is too late once you know a child has CP as they will have been infectious for a good while before symptoms appear. So unless your child never goes to playgroup, nursery, the library...

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bumbleymummy · 08/03/2014 18:46

sash, natural immunity is more likely to be lifelong. Yes, there will be some people who contract it again after being naturally infected (I believe the risk is increased if you have it mildly/under the age of 1 the first time) but vaccine immunity does wane (hence need for booster) and the vaccine isn't as effective in adulthood so you end up increasing your chances of contracting it in adulthood when it is more of a risk.

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MostlyMama · 08/03/2014 18:55

See it is threads like this that scare the crap out of me. My 2.5yo dd has had it and just getting over it now. I also have a 10mo, so the general concensus on this thread is he will die then?

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bumbleymummy · 08/03/2014 19:09

MostlyMama, I hate threads like this for that reason too! People always post worst case scenarios and they really are a tiny minority of cases. Please try not to worry. I'm sure your DS will be fine :)

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missingwelliesinsd · 08/03/2014 19:27

I don't live in the UK but I'm finding the comments surprising, am I to understand that children don't receive an immunisation for Chicken Pox through the NHS? Or is this because many people posting here are anti-vaccinations (I won't get into that debate because no-one is going to hvae their minds changed on the subject).

I do have a couple of friends (in our thirties) who have developed shingles in the past few years, and it was not fun I can assure you. Now they have to face future bouts of shingles for the rest of their lives.

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bumbleymummy · 08/03/2014 19:35

No missing, we do not have the CP vaccine on the NHS. I don't think there are any anti-vax people posting here. I think the most people have said is that they don't think they should have it in childhood.

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missingwelliesinsd · 08/03/2014 21:38

Thanks Bumble - I was genuinely confused. I must say I am surprised that the CP vaccine is not one of the vaccines offered through the NHS, complications from CP can be serious. Well, now I know!

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mrsjay · 08/03/2014 21:45

but rather because I thought it was best for him to have it young rather than old. Although as per my above post, now that I know there is a vaccine I will not need to consider it.

that is rubbish you can't tell how mild it will be one of my dds was very ill with CP at 4 the other one was fine a bit of a temp and a few spots, dd2 had them everywhere why would you make your children ill it doesnt matter when they get it they can still be ill

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bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:06

missing, yes, they can be serious, but they are rare. There are other things that need to be taken into consideration irt the vaccine - eg the need for boosters, waning immunity, the vaccine not being as effective in adults etc.