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?

[GXmummy]

YABU - chicken pox can kill when it infects immuno suppressed people.

[GXmummy]

As regards the vaccine - I agree what others have said previously. The fact is that the NHS cannot afford to vaccinate

[JassyRadlett]

I'll be honest. I've never encountered anyone who exposed their kids to chicken pox with the aim of them getting the disease, and then kept them in quarantine from days 10-21. If your friends do that, and are willing to do so for later convenience, then the only people they're risking are their own kids.

It's the other selfish buggers who know they've made their kids an infection risk based on their own idea of convenience, but don't curtail their activities I think are the problem.

[JassyRadlett]

The fact is that the NHS cannot afford to vaccinate

There is also the dispiriting fact that the cost-effective way to administer a vaccination programme would be through the MMR schedule (making it MMRV, or separate MMR and V in the same appointment). Given the irrationality that already exists in around the MMR, adding something to it would open up that whole can of worms again. I suspect neither the government nor the NHS want to touch that with a barge pole.

[wulfy1010]

I had chickenpox as a baby, I don't know if I was deliberately exposed to it or not, but I then developed shingles at the grand old age of 11. It developed along my optic nerve and I almost lost my sight. I know that I was a very unusual sight but it shows that early exposure to cp can have other consequences than immunity.

[JassyRadlett]

I thought that might be the case. I'm Australian, and my parents are both baffled and horrified that CP isn't part of the vaccine schedule here.

[Kewcumber]

I suspect neither the government nor the NHS want to touch that with a barge pole. - thats sort of what I alluded to earlier. Vaccinations are a hot potato just now and so many people see CP as a harmless childhood disease that it may be a pointless cost if vaccination take up is low.

It's beleived I have natural immunity to CP - my mother doesn't remember me having CP when my older brother and sister had it (though of course she could be wrong) and when I was immunosuppressed they eventually tested my immunity as I was being exposed so often through nursery and was found to have antibodies.

Interestingly I also have antibodies to TB and one of the Hepatitis's (can't remember which one) having had neither - it's believed from childhood exposure. In fact the doctors treating me when I was ill didn;t bleive that I hadn't had hepatitis and thought I was covering it up! They confirmed I would have gone yellow with that particular one and I said they were quite welcome to ask my mother when she was in later if I'd ever gone yellow! I am a medical marvel.

[Kewcumber]

My various handy immunities are particularly ironic given that at the time some of them were discovered I was being treated for an autoimmune problem (of which I developed 2-3) - perhaps my immune system is a little tooooo active.

[leedy]

Yup, I'm immune to chicken pox without ever having had any symptoms as well - confirmed when they tested me on my first pregnancy, though I had my suspicions given that I was exposed to it repeatedly and never got it.

My flatmate in college got it as an adult having had a not particularly hermit-like upbringing and hence presumably having been in contact with the virus. It's definitely not a given that "if you're exposed to it as a child, you'll get it and be immune!".

(both my kids are vaccinated, btw)

[CoteDAzur]

There is no such thing as natural immunity to chickenpox. If you are immune, you must have "got it" at some point. Asymptomatic infection is unusual but not impossible, and it can be so mild as to go unrecognised.

[leedy]

Yes, I don't think I'm inherently immune, just had an asymptomatic infection at some stage. I do wonder if some people are more prone to not getting symptoms, though, as my sister is the same - never knowingly had chicken pox, is immune.

I have asked various relatives and they are all confident that neither of us had chicken pox and my two other sisters definitely did.

[Kewcumber]

I think you understood what I meant by natural immunity cote ie immunity acquired naturally not via vaccine without obviously seeming to have had the illness. I'm not sure what such not picking adds the the thread I was hardly claiming it was common. I have certainly had neither TB nor hepatitis (at least not symptomatically I'm pretty sure I would have noticed) and have antibodies to both.

[CoteDAzur]

No, it was not at all clear that you meant "I didn't know I had these diseases" when you said "It's believed I have natural immunity to CP" and "I am a medical marvel". It sounded like you thought you somehow got immune without getting infected with the diseases.

[Tanith]

Another very good reason for quarantine is that it forces parents to keep their children away from school and childcare.

There are parents who knowingly send in children who are ill. If there is no quarantine, they will insist on sending their children, regardless of how ill and infectious they are.

With a quarantine, there is no argument.

[ninjatracey]

Sorry but you are so wrong. There is a vaccine for cp if you never get cp then you can never get shingles. They are both the herpes zoster virus. Once you have cp the herpes zoster virus lives in your nervous system for life. Having cp as a child make you MORE susceptible to having shingles in later life. The vaccine for cp is available privately in the UK for around £60. Children in the USA are vaccinated against cp routinely and as a result they have almost wiped out shingles as well. The vaccine is given at a year old. There is a chance a baby will,catch it before a year then the vaccine is pointless. But its well worth spending the £60. Please also be aware that TB is on the increase and our 13 year olds are no longer vaccinated for this in school. Again its available privately (our goverment should be paying for this !)

[theycallmebabydriver]

FFS what is with all the Zombie threads over the last few days.

Got a point to make about chicken pox? start a new thread, no point restarting a discussion from years ago

[BarbarianMum]

Ds2 came down with cp the day after we'd visited the very packed Natural History Museum - we probably infected hundreds. Once we knew though we kept him away from people as much as possible although I did still have to do things like the school run (him in a buggy with the raincover on).

I do think there is a slight hysteria on mumsnet where cp is concerned (yes it can kill - rarely - but so can the common cold) but it really isn't hard to be considerate about trying to minimise infecting others once you know your child has it.

[Onlyoldontheoutside]

I've never thought I'd had chicken pox although my bro and sis did when children but I am immune to it.Im not a medical marvel I just must have had the virus but no spots.
I do think that female teachers who are thinking of having children who have not had cp would be sensible to have the vaccine, it's not perfect but it is inevitable that they will come in contact with children with it.

[LouBakesCakes]

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.

They don't because of cost. They had the MMRV vaccine but when all the wakefield shit was done they didn't think people would want it. It comes down to costs though.


They rolled out the vaccine when dd was younger in our area i got her done it only lasts 10yrs apparently so she got them so its catch 22 really with the vaccine

The vaccine hasn't been out long enough to have this data.

[ninjatracey]

Not true at all. See a few people who believe this. The ONLY immunity to shingles is to never contract chicken pox (herpes zoster) if its never in your system you will never get shingles. Answer have your child vaccinated.

[ninjatracey]

So the very first time I post on net mums I get someone slating me straight away......thanks !

[Mumofkids]

Of course you should protect more vulnerable members of society if you know there is a risk. Why would you even ask this?
But equally most children in the first 5 days are in no fit state to go out anyway. Unless you were so lucky yours only had 3 spots or something I can't imagine why you'd want to take them out? It's a horrible illness that makes you feel dreadful.

[Mumofkids]

The only reason that this country does not offer the vaccine routinely is because there have not been quite enough deaths to warrant the cost.

[lynzpynz]

Biochemist here - whilst you don’t know you’re contagious not much you can do, soon as you do - you’re quarantined. Mostly to protect those with compromised immune systems who CP can kill.

I’ve heard of folk hosting ‘CP parties’ to expose children when young (but old enough that their immune system is strong enough to fight it off) which is kind of weird but it doesn’t seem to be as bad when a toddler / young adult usually. As I caught it at age 14 I can say it was horrific and I was really ill for a fortnight, still have the scars.

The vaccine is offered but it’s not mandatory scheduled like the more serious e.g. polio or measles - if only the NHS was properly funded...