to object to Chicken Pox quarantine advice?

[SummerMonths]

I understand CP can be nasty but I don't see any point in the quarantine advice. The virus is infectious for two days before the spots appear and obviously nobody knows it's coming so the virus is spread. Then the spots arrive and you have five days of house bound hell despite the fact you have already exposed people for days before.

And if the NHS were really concerned about stopping CP spreading they would vaccinate, but they don't. In fact they rely on kids getting CP young as it's more serious when old.

So can anyone explain the point of quarantine given you will already have exposed others to the virus? Isn't it rather a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted?

Manta I did with ds1, he had CP before but did not have immunity, it cost us £155 2 year ago and he had 2 injections 6 weeks apart. We gave ds it after we seen the effects on ds2.

ds2 even tho he has had CP and shingles still has no immunity, but cant have it after a skin prick test proved high IGE levels (possibly gelatin)

Because of FIL (not dh bio dad) history (sister died with CP complications) we thought it was important.

I'm really confused reading this thread. I've held off getting the vax for dd because of mixed reports in efficacy. If it worked I wouldn't think twice as dd has eczema and could do without the added problems.

LOL at the ridiculous suggestion that immuno-compromised people should wear masks in public places to avoid twats who purposefully go out with highly infectious diseases. How thick do you have to do to suggest that as a viable option?! Many people will have compromised immune systems forever, we cannot live our lives wearing masks because you just have to take Horatio to the soft play because little precious bored at home with chicken pox.

Completely agree. We all have to live in the world. It's a good thing to have a modicum of respect/concern for those around us.

I can't wear a mask at work because I need to talk on the phone to answer 999 calls. I'm 31 and likely to be immunosuppressed for the rest of my life, and I'm damned if I'm wearing a mask every day
Because food shopping, commuting etc etc etc all has risks
I minimise them by hand washing, anti bac gel, having my flu jab, taking my meds, not using the waiting room at the doctors, going every 12 weeks to haematology, taking antibiotics before dental treatment, asking that friends don't come round if they're ill
Had to completely change my life for a problem I never knew I had. All I ask is if you're ill, don't come near me

Imagine the sort of response you'd get if you did walk around wearing a mask? Complete segregation, second class citizen stuff going on.

OP a child's immune might be really weak and not ready for it, just last year a kiddie died from it, so exposing it on purpose would be wrong! Could be that following year his immune is better and ready to fight but it's not up to us to decide hence the quarantine

I don't really understand the mixed advice either. The NHS's position seems to be that it's better if we all get it (which throws the immunosuppressed under the bus) so the quarantine becomes a bit pointless. I think there should be universal vaccination - it works well in other countries.

The NHS position is that its better to get it as a child (preferably under 10) because the disease effects the suffer more as they get older, but that's not to say people should have pox parties etc... if you get it "naturally" then fantastic.

once you have CP its best to be kept in isolation, to minimise those who are vulnerable. I don't think its mixed messages. CP can and does kill.

"LOL at the ridiculous suggestion that immuno-compromised people should wear masks in public places to avoid twats who purposefully go out with highly infectious diseases. How thick do you have to do to suggest that as a viable option?! "

I don't know - less thick than the idiot who doesn't read the thread and thinks that was ever said?

"The NHS position is that its better to get it as a child (preferably under 10) because the disease effects the suffer more as they get older, but that's not to say people should have pox parties hmm etc... if you get it "naturally" then fantastic."

Surely the only difference between a CP party and a random encounter is that you know when your child will have CP and can plan accordingly (incl. avoiding vulnerable people during incubation period). Is that not a good thing?

How on earth can it be a "good thing"

Do you know the each of the child's medical history, do you know that if the chlld has a cold, the raise of white blood cells means they would struggle to fight the infection. Also a child say who is on steroids (asthma) weakens an individuals immune system.

Have you ever wondered why some suffers get it mild, or get it bad, or even die from it? Your playing russian roulette with not only your child's lives but the lives of other children, by deliberately exposing them to a disease, who then go on to spread it more to lots of other vulnerable people, because vulnerable people don't go about wearing a sign that says "I'm Vulnerable so please stay away from me"

As for the mask, you suggested it on the basis "something's better than nothing" but you have no medical knowledge or understanding on immunccompromised people, you showed that by even suggesting a surgical mask was a viable option, when the fact is, it a mere placebo effect. The fact you even refuse to acknowledge that shows your ignorance. Never mind add the social and public stigma wearing a surgical mask would bring to vulnerable people going about their daily lives, which you have also failed to acknowledge, You truly show no understanding, and the fact you fail to see this is very concerning.

Jesus wept, what a depressing thread.

I WORKED FULL TIME as a lawyer for the duration of my chemo. Not really practical to do that in a hazmat suit. (And I know that isn't what was suggested, but it's a slippery slope - and all because people think they are too important to keep their special snowflakes in the house for a few days FFS).

AFAIK The chickenpox vaccination isn't widely used because, unlike other vaccinations, there are questions over its life long protection. That's why I didn't get it for my kids (they got it naturally and yes, the quarantine was hellish)

"Do you know the each of the child's medical history, do you know that if the chlld has a cold, the raise of white blood cells means they would struggle to fight the infection. Also a child say who is on steroids (asthma) weakens an individuals immune system."

What on Earth are you talking about? You said "CP party" - that is about a parent saying "My child has CP at the moment. Bring yours over for a playdate if you want yours to catch it". Presumably other parents would know their children's medical history and whether they are on steroids etc and NOT bring their kids over if so.

My question to you was why you think it's OK for a child to catch it "naturally" (i.e. random, by mistake) and not at a CP party (i.e. planned, on purpose). It's the same disease, the same child. When its planned you can at least make sure he is not on steroids or fighting another infection when he catches CP, like in the adverse examples you gave.

I know it could be hard for those with immune problems, but did people not have these 40 years ago?

No, well not many.

People with cancer died, the only transplants were kidney transplants, children with Leukemia died, chemo was not used to treat arthritis, people with Down syndrome didn't live beyond their teens.

The first heart and lung transplant took place in 1980 and it could only take place due to the improvements in immunosupressive drugs.

"Your playing russian roulette with not only your child's lives but the lives of other children, by deliberately exposing them to a disease"

My DC caught CP "naturally", but you have not let facts get in the way of a good rant before, so why start now? I would have preferred DS not to get it as a baby at 8 months and spend the entire week of our holiday in the hotel room, but that's what happened. (We told hotel management so they wouldn't send in any pregnant women or others not sure of their immunity).

"a surgical mask was a viable option, when the fact is, it a mere placebo effect. The fact you even refuse to acknowledge that shows your ignorance."

It is not "mere placebo effect" - read Princess's research below, which I have acknowledged:

CoteDAzur Yesterday 21:37
Princess - That is interesting. I expected the protection offered by surgical masks to be higher for airborne pathogens. Still better than nothing, obviously, but you are right - they can't be counted on when the stakes are high.

randomcatname

the vaccine works, it is 98% successful (if the 2 jabs are had - as is recommended now). In the 2% that catch chicken pox after having the vaccine (as ds did) the chicken pox is much milder, so risks of skin infections and side effects are very much reduced (ds had 6 spots, a mild temperature and a sore throat).

The query over long term efficacy is because it has only been rolled out as a national programme about 20 years ago - in these countries the vaccine is stiil effective, so at the moment the evidence is that the vaccine is effective for at least 20 years (this will obviously change as time goes on, it may be effective for longer or it may be that a booster shot is recommended after a certain length of time, like tetanus)

When ds was vaccinated we were told to come in to check his immunity when he reached 18 - however his gp thinks that now he has had it naturally as well, that his immunity is probably going to be ok.

And 40 years ago the special snowflake being bored arguement was virtually unheard of

I agree that the NHS position is not 100% logical and as such is damaging as it leads to the sort of questioning and thinking in the OP.

There is also information in their online advice that is not supported by evidence - such as that a vaccine programme would lead to a significant increase in shingles (not supported by evidence from population studies in the US from 2013 onwards by the CDC, and recent research suggesting that the immunity boost provided by CP exposure is much shorter than previously thought, and young adults are those most likely to see a temporary increase in shingles as a result of less circulating CP virus, a group much less likely to have serious symptoms of shingles.)

And anecdotally: I got chicken pox as a young adult very badly and was hospitalised. I caught it from my grandmother who had shingles and 'just assumed' everyone she came into contact with, including her own grandchildren, must have had chicken pox.

I didn't get around to having DS1 privately vaccinated before he caught it aged 2, and I kick myself for that now. He was in pain, not just discomfort, and was also quite ill with it. DS2 will be vaccinated as soon as he's old enough. I feel horrible that not everyone has this choice due to cost. The evidence continues to mount that the benefits outweigh the costs of chicken pox vaccination programmes, particularly in combination with shingles vaccination programmes. The sooner we massively decrease the prevalence of both diseases, the better.

i agree people should be vaccinated against it both my kids were borderline needing intervention with cp it was actually my healthy son who developed a cough and whose spots got infected the one everyone was worried about was fine but as a single parent i had to cope which did mean going out of the house no one literally no one was prepared to help us so i had to take them out we waited till gone ten before doing shopping at the tesco attached to the garage (as that's there quiet time) he lurked outside with his sister but we were stuck for a lot of the time there is no help for people these days no friendly neighbours asking if you need anything from the shop just KEEP AWAY im surprised they didn't paint a red cross on my door

You can tell the people who have no idea and no empathy what it's like like to live with a life long condition that suppresses your immune system. Let's just hope you never get an autoimmune disease or cancer, eh?

I do find it odd that some people are so desperate to shift the entire responsibility onto immunosuppressed people when surely it's not that hard to just not take your chicken poxy child to soft play or the cinema. I mean, it is an inconvenience for, what, a few weeks out of your life? What's the agenda here? Very weird. Btw I take full precautions when needed e.g. no supermarkets or cinema when my neutrophils are low.

I agree louise but there's a difference between taking a poxy child to the cinema or soft play (not necessary) or on the school run or to a supermarket to buy calpol (perhaps unavoidable). People also on here shriek 'stay in, don't leave the house' when in fact its about avoiding other people. I guess in urban areas the two things may be the same but they aren't in a rural area.

Well I've just booked my son in for a vaccine as a result of this thread so thank you Jessy!