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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think I’m bound to get chicken pox?

39 replies

Chacharaawr · 19/12/2018 11:50

DS (5) has come down with chicken pox he seems fine in himself and there aren’t too many spots.

I’ve never had it and looking at the stats online it looks like there is a high chance I will catch it from him. It also looks like adult chicken pox can be dreadful. Is there any medicine I can ask GP for now or would I have to wait for the spots to get the antiviral stuff? I have a awful headache and sore throat- which I’m worried is the start of it.

OP posts:
Fullofregrets33 · 19/12/2018 13:11

I'm 34 I've never had chicken pox. My 2 kids got it last year really bad, i cuddled, kissed them etc and I don't get it.
I think once you get to a certain age if you havent had it your likely to be a carrier and never will get it

Vinorosso74 · 19/12/2018 13:15

I had it aged 36. I was tested when pregnant to see if I was immune-i wasn't. DD and I caught it at the same time. I felt terrible for about 2 or 3 days-sort of flu symptoms. Didn't help that I was breastfeeding too so felt very tired.
I can vouch that calamine is rubbish on the spots but Poxclin is wonderfully soothing.

Dariosa · 19/12/2018 13:18

Your GP can give you an emergency blood product (containing antibodies of people who’ve had chickenpox) if you get an appointment quickly enough

Di11y · 19/12/2018 13:21

I thought the chicken pox vaccine was still effective up to 3 or 5 days after contact.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 19/12/2018 13:27

I would imagine if you had managed to avoid it as a child and into adulthood then you are unlikely to get it. Nevertheless chances are you are already incubating the virus as it is contagious before spots appear meaning your son will have passed it to you already before his spots appeared. Whether you develop the spots or not only time will tell. As for treating it, surely it depends on how bad you had it, should you get it at all?

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 19/12/2018 13:29

Speak to a chemist urgently about whether there is any point getting the vaccine.

I think if the doctor thought you were high risk they might prescribe anti virals but not if you were healthy

brownmoose · 19/12/2018 13:41

You can have an antiviral called Amoxiclav, not sure if they would prescribe it though, unless you had an underlying medical condition.

EwItsAHooman · 19/12/2018 13:58

You need to speak to your GP asap. I've never had CP so when my DCcame down with it the GP did a blood test to check my immunity, results came back really quickly and showed I was immune. If I hadn't been immune the he'd have given me antiviral medication.

user1494409994 · 19/12/2018 14:00

Both my children had it and although I never caught it as a child even though my sister had it, I didn't catch it from them either. I was 41.

girlandboy · 19/12/2018 14:03

I caught it as an adult, so it is definitely possible. And it was awful.

Frozenteatowel · 19/12/2018 18:32

You can get it as an adult but some people seem to have a natural immunity to it. I’ve not had it and didn’t catch it when DD had it or from any of the children in playgroups and schools where I worked. I’ve never had mumps either and have never been immunised against it as vaccine wasn’t around when I was young.

Mumof1andacat · 19/12/2018 18:42

Worth a chat with a gp. Chickpox in an adult can be much worse than if you get it as a child

ShockedHorrored · 19/12/2018 18:44

I caught it age 19 from my nephew. It was fucking awful. Can you get the vaccine?

Aquamarine1029 · 19/12/2018 18:55

The chances are good that you actually have had chicken pox earlier in life and didn't know as it was a very mild case. Either way, call your gp if you're concerned.

Yadda · 19/12/2018 19:12

I got it at 21. It was horrendous. At least give your GP a call. I'd try to avoid it at all costs.

MrsTWH · 20/12/2018 07:57

I caught it aged 28 from a child in a GP waiting room and passed it to my 6 month old baby... it wasn’t fun!!

toptomatoes · 20/12/2018 08:00

I caught it from my nephew when I was 24. I’d ask a GP for advice.

SweetheartNeckline · 20/12/2018 08:04

As Di11y says the vaccine is effective up to 5 days post-exposure. If you can afford £65 and aren't pregnant it's worth a try.

busybarbara · 20/12/2018 08:08

I got it in my 30s. I got some sort of antivirals from the GP on day one and was only truly rough for a day. I got all the spots for a week so had to isolate myself but pain and illness wise it was no problem

3boysandabump · 20/12/2018 08:09

My dh has never had chicken pox and he didn't catch it when our eldest 2 had it.

My mother caught it when I had as a child though and she was really ill with it.

Ansumpasty · 20/12/2018 08:09

You could very well have had a mild case and are immune. 2 of my friends got tested while pregnant and both were immune, even though both were adamant that they had never had it

Stuckforthefourthtime · 20/12/2018 08:16

Get the vaccine! Adult chickenpox is not nice (and all chickenpox should be unnecessary these days anyway, the UK is one of the few developed countries where it isn't part of the vaccine schedule).

Chesneyhawkes1 · 20/12/2018 08:17

I caught it aged 22. Was awful. I felt so ill.

I did have some tablets to take, think they were antivirals.

Lots of calamine lotion and sitting in the bath for me. And desperately tried not to scratch!

Pinkkahori · 20/12/2018 08:23

I never had chickenpox and blood tests when I was pregnant said I'm not immune. My children had it a few years ago though and i didn't get it.
I get a bit nervous when chickenpox season comes around.

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 20/12/2018 08:29

Some adults who think they've not had it actually are immune anyway, possibly from a very mild version. But I'd investigate the vaccine anyway, potentially makes it milder even at this stage.