To let my baby catch chicken pox?

[Rumplestrumpet]

In brief, my husband, baby and me are due to go away for 3 days with another family next week. They're a lovely couple though, tbh, our husbands have nothing in common, so it's really just us wives pushing it. She told me yesterday that her son has come down with chicken pox. Our baby is almost 6 months old and has never had it, though DH and I have.

I spoke to my HV today and she was very relaxed about it - they have to get it at some point, at least now you're on mat leave so won't have to take time off to look after her. She is exclusively breast fed so you can comfort her with the breast - it's your call.

DH would happily ditch the whole thing, but I feel like I still want to go... But then I will feel terribly if baby catches it and is in a lot of pain....

Anyone had a small baby with chicken pox? Is it really awful? ie worse than when they're older?

Welcome advice please!

those of you who are saying don't expose or are choosing vaccination - can I ask what are your long term plans? Vaccination lasts about 10 yrs - what then?i has a friend at uni who hot chicken pox. He was horribly I'll. Was told it would have been better to get it earlier.

DS had it as a baby (~ 8 months) and suffered much less than DD (5) who caught it from him. I had it as a child, too, and so did everyone I know. YANBU to let your baby catch chicken pox.

However, beware that the immune system of a baby might not be mature enough to confer lifetime immunity after having the disease.

My daughter had the spots at six months 2 weeks meaning she caught it at around the six month mark exactly.

It was AWFUL. Five hundred spots on her back (counted an area of 100 and there were five times that). Her bottom and vulva had it really badly too. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

And after all that, she's not guaranteed immunity. I'd definitely advise against it so young if you have a choice.

I certainly agree that it's best to get one's immunity in early childhood (not babyhood) bumbley. For that reason, if you're taking a vaccinate if they don't catch it approach, it may not be a good idea to wait until the teens.

Veterinari that's not true at all. I think you're getting mixed up with the fact that at the moment, we only have evidence of the immunity lasting for about 20 years. Reason being that the vaccine only came into widespread use in the early to mid 90s, so the first cohort who had the vaccine have only had twenty years to be immune, iyswim. We don't have any evidence of it wearing off. You maybe have read articles or whatever from 10 years ago saying we only have proof it works for 10 years? Which would have been true at the time, but there's no reason to believe the average length of time for which immunity is conferred will be any shorter or indeed longer than with the disease itself. It's true that you don't want chicken pox later in life if you can avoid it, fortunately the evidence we have suggests that when vaccinated adults do contract chicken pox, it's likely to be mild.

I think you would be a idiot if you done this, iy does not guarantee immunity, and you can get chicken pox multiple times, it can also be life threatening, and just why would you subject a child to becoming very unwell.

Its just frankly idiotic.

My son got it at 6 months. Painful blisters all round base of skull so brushing against them with my arm whilst breastfeeding made him scream. He also got an ear infection on top. Wouldn't be great for Xmas.

I agree kids shouldn't be kept in a bubble but deliberately seeking infection seems harsh and if they happen to get really ill you will feel awful. Best hope is they pick it up some time by themselves then it is out of your hands so less guilt involved.

Mine have already had it Fanny :)

I said there was a case to be made for older children /teens being vaccinated - giving them the opportunity to contract it when they are less likely to have complications but vaccinating if they don't. Although, even though the risks are higher in adults, they're still uncommon.

I got my son vaccinated at 18 months. I did this largely because he has severe eczema and children with eczema are likely to get more a severe case of chicken pox, have complications and also because frankly he had already had more than his fair share of illness/suffering and if I could prevent him from getting something else then I would. Also from a financial perspective it would cost me more to have two weeks off work than it would to immunise him so it is a financial no brainer.
As far as I understand it the vaccination gives the same immunity as if you had caught chicken pox normally. Lots of countries have national immunisation programmes.
In the US it is standard and now childhood chicken pox is pretty much a thing of the past. Makes it feel we are stuck a bit in the dark ages here. It's frustrating as children are getting it younger and younger ( I think largely due to more children being in childcare from a young age) and you can't immunise till age one. Makes me worry for my next baby ( am pregnant) who I do intend to immunise as soon as I can, whether she will be exposed before I get the chance to immunise her.

My daughter caught chicken pox under 1 year old and 2 dentists have now stated this could be a factor in the lack of enamel on her teeth, she also went on to get shingles at 11. I wouldnt risk it with such a young baby. Well done for asking though x

Yes you did mention that your boys had had it already bumbley, I was speaking of the general 'you'. And I know what you said about older children and teens, our disagreement is with the 'teens' part. If I were taking the approach you're advising ie vaccinate by a certain point if they don't get it before then, I'd bring the age down a bit.

Why would you do that to your poor baby? Chickenpox can be very dangerous in young babies, as well as for older people, pregnant women and people with immune suppressed illnesses. Even if your dc gets chickenpox now he may not be immune and could get it again when he is older. You are also risking getting shingles which are very painful and your wouldn't enjoy the break anyway because your baby would be too sick to take out. You friends should stay home at least until her dc is no longer infectious.

DD is vaccinated. I'm planning to get her a booster in secondary school but in the meantime she'll be exposed to it in the community which will be a natural booster, and she may well get a mild version that way.

It's more in populations where wild-type varicella is rare (as in countries where the vaccine is widely given) that you need to think more carefully about the timing and need for a booster.

Fanny, I'm not "advising" anything.

You're entitled to your opinion about when you think it should be given.

Thanks Fanny

My DS was 4 when he caught chicken pox! He was hospitalised for 2 weeks and at points he fought for his life!!!! The chicken pox ate his bottom and all the tissue in and around his anus. He has a gastrostomy and it ate all the tissue around that. His penis was so swollen we had Urology Dr's coming from different hospitals to see how rotten things were! He is double in continent so wears nappies and every bit of toileting was hell on earth!
He couldn't open his mouth because they were all inside his mouth, on his tongue and lips. He was sedated for 5 days to recover.
My other two then caught it and they both were really badly infected and shocked Dr's said this was a particularly bad strain.

So in essence .... no don't expose your child to something that could be life threatening!!!!

DS is scarred all over his body and may need surgery to rectify some badly effected areas. The tissue on his bottom is now very thin and every nappy need changing immediately as it can result in bleeding and open wounds!!!

My DD1 had chickenpox at 3 and was mildly unwell. Loads of spots and a bit of a temperature but all under control with calpol and piriton. DD2 was 7 months old and had it really badly. Really distressed. Her nappy area was one mass of red pox and every wee and poo was agony. Too young to be distracted by TV. She was really unwell for months with various infections as she struggled to recover.

My kids were ok but my sil's youngest nearly died from complications and had a stay in intensive care and several operations - I wouldn't knowingly put my kids at risk now.

"The chicken pox ate his bottom"

It... what?

DD had it at about 18 months, caught off DS who was 6. She had it much more mildly than he did, I was quite pleased to get it over with reasonably lightly with her.

I had chickenpox at 18over Christmas and new year so always said I would let my children have it as kids. However after becoming a mum would definitely avoid them intentionally getting it.

"Primary varicella zoster virus infection results in chickenpox (varicella), which may result in complications including encephalitis, pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia), or bronchitis (either viral bronchitis or secondary bacterial bronchitis ). Even when clinical symptoms of chickenpox have resolved, VZV remains dormant in the nervous system of the infected person (virus latency), in the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia.[2]

In about 10–20% of cases, VZV reactivates later in life, producing a disease known as shingles or herpes zoster. VZV can also infect the central nervous system, with a 2013 article reporting an incidence rate of 1.02 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Switzerland, and an annual incidence rate of 1.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Sweden.[3]

Other serious complications of varicella zoster infection include postherpetic neuralgia, Mollaret's meningitis, zoster multiplex, and inflammation of arteries in the brain leading to stroke,[4] myelitis, herpes ophthalmicus, or zoster sine herpete. In Ramsay Hunt syndrome, VZV affects the geniculate ganglion giving lesions that follow specific branches of the facial nerve. Symptoms may include painful blisters on the tongue and ear along with one sided facial weakness and hearing loss."

Sounding scary yet?

Um no, it's not sounding scary. I had chicken pox, as did my DC, as did everyone I know and their children. Nobody got inflammation of the arteries leading to the brain and end up with a stroke. What on Earth are you on about?

You can get struck by lightning, mugged, or hit by a car while walking down the street but (shockingly) I don't find walking around town scary, either.

My 17yr old has them atm she is fecking miserable and sore why would you set out to make your baby ill yeah they might catch it at some point but to actively seek out a virus that can make your child ill is stupid what if your baby gets them in her mouth and bf doesnt soothe her

My eldest had them at 8 dd2 was obviously exposed she was in the house and shared a room

Your 17-year-old would have been much less miserable if she caught it as a child. They are called "childhood diseases" for a reason.

Stupid is not making sure she gets it as a child OR vaccinating her so she doesn't get it as a young adult. You only have yourself to blame for the misery your DD is going through with chicken pox at the age of 17.