To ask... Would you give your child chicken pox deliberately?

[LinkyPlease]

DD's cousin is due over tomorrow for a sleepover. Cousin has just been diagnosed with chicken pox.

Should we go ahead with sleepover, assuming cousin feels well enough, in the knowledge it will likely lead to DD catching chicken pox?

DD is 4 (not at school yet), cousin turning 6, and I've got a 9 month old at home to who woke this morning with a high temp so he might be ailing with something toi

@MissYeti how do you think you get shingles?

But you can only get shingles if you've had chicken pox in the past. That means anyone who has had chicken pox has the chance of it reactivating as shingles

I was told that if you had chicken pox you wouldn't get shingles as you'd already have immunity to the virus...apparently I need to research that

Yes, you can only get shingles if you have had chicken pox

I wish chicken pox was one of the routine vaccines given in the UK. My son had but we paid.

I've had shingles. It is not nice at all. But I was lucky it was mild.

My doctor looked at tummy rash but my friend, who is a nurse, looked at my back and saw itbeebt right round me on a circle.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/

it went

Two friends had their kids hospitalised due to chicken pox it was horrendous. I would never knowingly let my child play with a child with chicken pox . We paid for the vaccine last year two doses and no issues .

My 5yr old had it from reception class off one of his friends, first spot appeared week Friday he wasn't too bad and went back to school Wednesday. (Apparently half the class called in sick with it last week). Just as I saw spots appearing in front of my eyes on my 7, 8, and 10 yr old boys that was Wednesday morning my 10 yr old is the worst with a high temperature etc

No, you never know what reaction your chilD will have.

The world health organisation recommends vaccinating against chicken pox and australia and US do this for free as part of their vaccination programmes. The Uk does not do this - pressumably because of the expense. Some posters from other countries would not realise it’s not free in uk.

@SnowOnTheSeine that’s my nieces.
Chicken pox party
1 niece is married, degree educated with a child
1 is a happy soul most of the time
Married nieces mum is a happy lady with an Amazing grandchild
The others is a drug riddled alcoholic

Cheers to chicken pox

If they get complications from just catching, exposure from siblings or just being at nursery then you’d live easier with it
Intentionally catching it makes it incredibly awful to live with

The general consensus where I live is that if they haven’t had it by age ten, you definitely vaccinate

This is generally my plan with DD. She avoided catching it off her brother when he caught it pre-Christmas, which surprised me.

I'm so sorry to hear about the mum @QOD

Some stories on MN stay with you and yours did.

I'm glad your neices are happy.

@QOD

Btw childhood vaccinations in the States are not free.
Price list here

I would cancel the sleep over (especially with a 9 m old) but I wouldn't vaccinate (Ive had the vaccination).

My DC all had CP as toddlers, and it was very mild. Of course some children suffer very badly with CP, but not all.