Chickenpox panic

[Panickedfran]

I’ve just discovered that ds (aged 3) has chickenpox - I found spots when I was getting him changed after nursery. Obviously he won’t be going into nursery next week and I’ve informed the nursery.

My dd (aged 5) is in Year 1. She’s definitely been exposed to the virus as she had a bath with ds last night, but doesn’t have any spots yet.

My dilemma is that she’s in the same class as boy whose mother is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

From reading the NHS website, (if she gets it) she won’t develop spots for up to 3 weeks, and she’ll be contagious for 2 days before the spots appear.

So if she doesn’t have spots by Monday, and I send her in, she could still be in the contagious period and at risk of spreading chickenpox to this boy.

What should I do?

I obviously can’t keep her off school for up to 3 weeks if she doesn’t get any spots, but I also feel terrible about sending her in and risking her spreading it to everyone including this boy.

I was wondering about calling the mother and asking if she/her ds have had chickenpox already, but if she has (I’m not a medical expert), does the lower immunity as a result of chemo mean she could be at risk again?

Alternatively I could just keep her off school this week as I’ll have to take a week off week to look after ds anyway. I could contact the school to ask for any work/activities to do. But then if she develops spots next weekend, she’ll end up missing another week of school.

I’m also worried that ringing the Mum might be a bit invasive as I don’t know her very well.

I’d call and speak to the school and ask their advice. I think they’ll say to send her in if she’s symptomless but at least you’ll have done the best you can and maybe they could talk to the mum about it so she’s aware?

The son might well have had the vaccination if his mother hasn't had it before and is undergoing chemo.
I guess all you can do is call the school.

School nurse for advice?

I think you seem really kind OP to be so worried.

Perhaps phone NHS24 for advice or even pop into a pharmacy.

It's a difficult one. I'm not sure you can keep your DD off school if there's technically nothing wrong with her. It would mean keeping her off for the whole incubation period then the spotty part which could be quite a while.

Ahhhhh op I don't know!

It must be something the mum is prepared for as she has school-aged children.

Tell the school and let them inform the other parent. There's no way they'll let you keep yours off with no symptoms. And so many other children could be incubating now.

Ring the school I think. They may be of the opinion that the boy should be the one to miss school, if either of them. But it's not for you to sort out, as long as you notify them you're doing the right thing.

The son might well have had the vaccination if his mother hasn't had it before and is undergoing chemo.

Whether the mother has had CP or not is irrelevant, the chemotherapy destroys the bodies memory of having had the virus and the immunity gained from it, CP in Chemo patients is very serious.

All I can say is speak to the school and perhaps get advice from your GP.

Can I also thank you OP, my child is a cancer sufferer and at least once every few months, we have parents who knowingly send their child to school either in the early stages of CP, with a sibling suffering CP or having knowingly been exposed, which means my DS has to take Post Exposure Prophylactic Acyclovir to pr vent him from contracting CP.

But, in reply to your question, my DS is the one to miss school if other children are exposed but not showing symptoms yet.

Tbh if her ds is in school it is a risk they are already taking. She would not be contagious for a minimum of 10 days after exposure.

Hi OP, we had a similar situation recently with my oldest ds getting chicken pox and being around my mum who has not long finished chemo and starting radiotherapy. The GP checked her blood results for her immunity status and also she had to advise her oncologist. Personally I think that if you have the mum’s number I would give her a quick call. She will probably appreciate it and will know what action (if any) she needs to take.