Chicken Pox - dos and donts

[Tweedledee3Tweedledum]

Is it irresponsible to take a child out to public places that has chicken pox, yet to scab over?

For example, going out for something to eat? Shopping?

I think it is massively selfish. It can cause real damage to unborn babies whose mothers are not immune, to people with compromised immune systems and even to healthy adults who haven't had cp in childhood.

It is a pita to stay home - my 4 dc and dh all had cp at the same time and I was the only one who didn't get it (had it as a child) and it was a long couple of weeks. But there is no way I would have taken them to supermarkets and restaurants.

I've just been released from chicken pox related lockdown - DD1 had it, and we stayed in for 6 days until she'd scabbed over. It was hellish, especially as she had SERIOUS cabin fever once she felt better but it's not worth making other people seriously ill.

I cannot believe people like Isadora not only exist but openly admit to their selfishness.

This never ends well on here. Actually chicken pox is spread by close contact defined as being in the same room for fifteen minutes plus. No reason why poxed children can't be in buggies etc on the school run as long as they are kept away from close contact and remain outside. No reason why a poxed child can't run around a beach as long as not in close contact. Public transport and restaurants are obvious not on, ditto cinema, soft play. A quick whizz in a buggy with rain over through a supermarket at a quiet time is unlikely to be a risk but no lingering.
The true problem with chicken pox transmission is not kids on school run. It's that you can't tell they are incubating it and infectious till it comes out in spots. Which is why imo we should vaccinate.

😂 wayfaring unclutch my dear unclutch.

As a finally sensible pp says the risk is from 15 mins exposure in the same room. Or close face to face contact. Or touching the actual weeping spots.

Not from passing a child in a buggy or in a trolley.

By public transport I meant a ferry so we were able to keep her from being in close contact and she was mostly outdoors anyway. And the tourist attractions were also outdoor or set up so as to avoid close contact. No harm done.

People staying in for weeks is excessive. And not even the recommended action.

According to NHS CP can spread from contact with clothing and toys infected person has touched. So you don't need to be in a confined space for 15 minutes at all.

I'm guessing that means shopping trolleys too

I had the same advice from GP as Me624 with 13 month DD, I assume he knew what he was talking about given the years of training at medical school etc

He was the senior GP at the practice by the way.

MCP yes which is why I said an immunocompromised person would be likely to wipe trolleys down etc.

It's highly unlikely a child would have active sores on their hands and be clutching the trolley handle right before an inmunocompromised person happened to go shopping.

The biggest risk will be from children just prior to actually coming out in spots in childcare settings or cinemas etc who sneeze or cough. Not actual spotty kids out shopping.

I once had a senior gp tell me switching from Cerelle to Cerezette wouldn't make any difference to my 18 day period despite my insistence that it would as I had been on it before. Saw a different doc who gave it to me and low and behold no periods.

Although that is more to do with that drs pay than anything else.

My SIL said that she had taken her dc to the doctor for CP. I absolutely ripped into her about potentially infecting immunosuppressed, pg and elderly patients in the waiting room. She shrugged and told me that she had to get a diagnosis. I have no doubt that they were dragged along to soft play and to the country club crèche too.

Yes very. My friend is undergoing chemotherapy and we are all very careful not to go to see her if infectious with something. She has had chicken pox but if she hadn't that would be awful for her on top of the chemo. A cold is highly unpleasant, chicken pox is awful in adults.

Why would anyone risk it to eat put? Or go shopping when places deliver. What makes them think it's ok to decide that others should take the risk?

Colds, coughs...a part of life for public places but something like chicken pox or something else infections like norovirus - no not fair to decide for others.

And what poorly poxy itchy child wants to be dragged out for food or shopping?

I work in a pharmacy - we have people with all sorts of illness in and out all day - this week we had 3 separate adults in with chicken pox - big epidemic here right now - I know 2 of them live alone - what are they supposed to do about medication etc if they are not supposed to go in a shop?

Wow, Isadora patronising too. You're a real peach. Hope you don't ever get cancer or a serious autoimmune disease.

Beyond I think most rational people would realise that you need the basics; medication and food. I'd hope that they'd maybe phone ahead and explain, so they'd limit their time in the pharmacy. I'd hope that the pharmacy were kind and helpful and didn't make them wait. I totally and completely understand that some people really don't have anyone to collect their kids from school, pick up a pint of milk or grab some meds. I object to people continuing their every day lives in the public domain e.g. the cinema and non vital public transport journeys. You have to take a sensible approach. Some people do seem incapable of that.

😂 wayfaring. You're around 13 years too late for that one. And I took responsibility for my own health needs during that time thanks.

What an odd comment. Of course I take responsibility for my own health. Should I avoid soft play just in case some random ignoramus decides that their precious little darling can't miss a party despite having a highly infectious disease like chicken pox? You may make patronising smiley faces but clearly you don't know what it's like to live an entire life with immunosuppression. It's give and take in life. I guess some people are justtakerz.

You have to take a sensible approach. Some people do seem incapable of that.

I truly do not understand why if CP is such a massive deal we don't just vaccinate against it.

Children have to have it anyway as it stands because it's worse if you get it as an adult especially as a mum of girls potentially during pregnancy.

There is bizarre lack of sense the other way sometimes, on a previous thread a poster was adamant that you must never take a child with CP OUT. And would not accept that the issue is they need to be kept away from other people. Dd2 just had it and we did a lot of rural walking and playing outside the house. I wouldn't go shopping tbh any excuse or anywhere busy though.

I am at the 'all pregnant women having to wipe the handle of the trolley'. It's only an issue in pregnancy if you catch it. Loads of women have a child with CP while they are pregnant (I did). Wasn't I glad I'd had it as a child....

Damn you autocorrect!

Basic I did say that some people seem incapable of taking a sensible approach but I did mean on both sides and specifically made reference to the fact that people need to visit pharmacies and supermarkets, so a little bit of selective reading there.

The chicken pox vaccine has its limitations because the immunity wanes and therefore, it may be more problematic later in life.

Yes but presumably if 95% of kids had it then there wouldn't be much around at all. Bit like other things we vaccinate for.

It is incredibly ignorant and selfish to take a poxy contagious child out and about.

Thankfully the vast majority have more common sense and consideration.

Well some ppl are taking a bit of an extreme approach but hey their choice! I've never been told by GPs not to go to see them with suspected CP (and indeed went once to get diagnosis confirmed as it was a second bout of CP so was a bit unsure as I didn't know then it could be reactivated) but we are clearly advised not to go if suspecting other things like flu and sickness bug I think. So I'd go with that logic: OK to go out and about to a reasonable degree, no close contact with ppl, no soft play etc. Staying indoor the whole time seems extreme to me.

Also when had second bout of CP nursery rang saying oh your DD seems to have CP, this is not to worry you or anything but in case you want to come pick her up earlier to go to see the GP. So they didn't panic either or suggest I should go in immediate insolation...