Chicken Pox and elderly relatives

[Gigglemousey]

4 days ago DS1 came out in chicken pox, they are still spotty and haven’t scabbed over yet. For Xmas day my parents are supposed to be travelling to us. They are both in their 70s. I have told them about DS and the fact that my youngest child is likley to be infectious with it even if not yet spotty. They are adamant they had chickenpox as children and so are still coming. I don’t think it’s a great idea. WIBU to make them stay away even if they really want to come?

They are adults and as such can make their own choice

It’s possible but very rare to catch chicken pox twice in your life so if they’ve had it as children the risk is very low to them. And it’s a myth that coming into contact with chicken pox triggers shingles. So from their point of view I can see why they aren’t concerned. If you don’t want to have guest with poorly kids that’s fair enough but a different issue and you probably just need to explain you’re worried it’s going to be a bit much.

The kids are fine in themselves was just worried it was a bad idea. I would hate to make them ill and chicken pox can be such a vicious illness.

You can catch chicken pox from shingles though. Although my Nan avoided anyone with chicken pox in case she got shingles.

She was adamant you could catch it the other way round and she was very wise so I’ve always been a bit suspicious in case you can.

You can not catch shingles from chicken pox!

Exposure to chicken pox is actually a good way to prevent shingles. Forces those antibodies to come back into action. Of course you should let them come if they’d made the decision to come

Chicken pox is life threatening in the wrong circumstances. Perhaps ring your nearest central immunisation office or infectious disease department and ask for advice. Having chicken pox 60 odd years ago might not necessarily make current safety.

Also, would they then take virus and spread it themselves? That would also be a concern of mine, having seen the very worst that it can do.

TheSandgroper that’s what I’m worried about! Would having chicken pox 65 years ago still offer them immunity?!

They'll be fine. I have never heard of a grandparent catching CP off a grandchild both sets of our parents came round/ babysat when LOs had it (of course it is theoretically possible if they aren't immune as someone will trot along in a minute to say otherwise). Don't forget they had no vaccinations and caught everything, they had exposure when you had it as a child. One reason for not having universal CP vaccination is exposure actually prevents Shingles as it boosts immunity. Stop worrying and enjoy Christmas .

As a pp said, contact with CP boosts immunity to shingles. so all good for a visit.

We saw my DParents when my DC had chicken pox and they were absolutely fine. I also thought that exposure to it can help prevent shingles.

They’ll be fine. They are very likely to have had chicken pox as children were encouraged to share it around back then.
In general, it’s a very mild illness and few people come to much harm.
They are adults let them decide. Their age is irrelevant and 70 isn’t so very old nowadays.

Aw bless ya OP i can understand your quandry but ultimately make their own choice, Im in the Opposite boat my eldest recently had Chicken pox,and my nan 87 has said she'd prefer us not go up, totally understandable but not looking forward to telling the kids.

You can't catch chicken pox from shingles!

They will be fine. Age changes our bodies ability to stimulate an immune response. It doesn’t change your immunity status from things you’ve already had. So no, the fact they had chicken pox a long time ago isn’t relevant.

Did you have chicken pox as a child? Presumably as you don’t seem to be concerned about catching it yourself? In which case they must have been immune then or they would have caught it off you.