Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

11 month old DD exposed to chicken pox - BALLS!

53 replies

Justabitcheesedoff · 13/04/2019 21:29

Just to clarify why I'm so nervous about this (and before anyone tells me to get a massive grip), my uncle had severe complications and very nearly died from catching chicken pox as a baby. He's also still absolutely covered in scars. It's a story my grannie loves to tell me about a lot so it's hard not to be nervous...

Is there anything that I can do except watch and wait? I know I'm probably asking for the moon on a stick but just feeling a bit gutted and anxious about it. And the incubation period is so long too Sad

OP posts:
SnowWhitesRestingBitchFace · 13/04/2019 22:40

My 3 children all caught chicken pox in October/November last year. My oldest DS who is 12 had it horrendously. It was awful. Then DS2 (who is 4) and it was bad enough but not nearly as much as oldest DS. During all of this we saw our GP and I mentioned I was worried about our baby catching it (he was only 6 months old) and was told that it's actually a very very mild when they get it that young (he did catch it and GP was right, it was nothing compared to the older ones!) So please try not to worry.

RandomMess · 13/04/2019 22:45
Thanks

2 of mine had it under a year one was awful one was incredibly mild.

If your baby catches it you will be vigilant and that's what matters.

Original poster
Justabitcheesedoff · 13/04/2019 22:50

It's up to you obviously, but if your baby is only s couple of weeks off 12 months you could book a chicken pox vaccination privately and then 'forget' your red book (or bring the wrong one if you've got an older dc), and hope they do it anyway.

Just read somewhere online that they can do it from 9 months... Although how reliable this is I'm not entirely sure Confused I'm planning on calling up first thing Monday and pleading though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Justabitcheesedoff · 13/04/2019 22:56

If your baby catches it you will be vigilant and that's what matters.

Thank you, I really appreciate it :( I know for a lot of people it's seen almost as a childhood rite of passage but, given my family history, it's so difficult for me to see it that way, even when I know what happened is rare.

OP posts:
AhhhHereItGoes · 13/04/2019 22:58

I understand your nerves I really do, but every child is different.

Sometimes a young child gets less discomfort as they are easier distracted.

DD2 was 4 or 5 months when DD1 had chicken pox at 3. I was so worried, but she actually just has 6-8 spots.

There is a slight chance they'll get it again if had the pox under 12 months but I wasn't too worried as she was very reasonable considering.

I hope everything goes okay for you. 💐

Nairobe · 13/04/2019 22:59

Maybe prepare for CP just in case? Make sure you have calpol (no ibroprofen!), pox clin and sodium biocarb? So you at least have everything ready if suddenly needed.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 13/04/2019 23:00

I unknowingly exposed my niece to chicken pox when she was 10 months old. I was looking after her for the day...all day hugging touching kisses etc. 3 days later I had two little red spots that then developed into chicken pox. (Never mind the fact I was 30 and has already had them as a child!!) I was absolutely beside myself that I had exposed her to it and was so upset. She never caught them! I only came out in about 20 or so spot so maybe it was mild so she didn’t catch them but I was so relived.

I can understand why you would be upset at the thought especially with family history.

Vinorosso74 · 13/04/2019 23:01

I never caught chicken pox as a child despite being around kids who did. However, I did aged 36 at the same time as DD who was 9 months old (caught it from a friend's DD who came out in spots day after we saw them). DD was ok in herself; I felt fluey for about 3 days.
No scars on either of us but I kept applying Poxclin which was so soothing. I think how to deal with chicken pox is better understood and there are more products available to soothe the itch than when your uncle had it.

Ithinkmycatisevil · 13/04/2019 23:02

DD2 was exposed to it loads of times as a baby and toddler, but didn't actually catch it until she was about 8. She actually has it much worse than dd1, who had it at 2.

I think it's only very dangerous to very young babies. At almost 1 your dd should be fine.

AhhhHereItGoes · 13/04/2019 23:04

Also most serious complications I've heard of where under 6 months or got Pox in adulthood. But that's no help when you're worried.

Mummyto2munchkins · 13/04/2019 23:07

Hi OP, my 1st was exposed to it from nursery plenty of times from 8 months plus, has only just had it now she's 3!
My 2nd is 8 months and has just had them too. (according to 1st the chicken came and attacked him as she managed to get rid of them!) He was fairly spotty, groggy but absolutely fine. Currently laying on me having a cuddle.

cadburyegg · 13/04/2019 23:08

DS1 is 4 and has been exposed to chicken pox at nursery as many of his little friends have come down with it! He’s not yet caught it though.

The chances of your little one getting chicken pox at some point in her childhood are very high but complications like you describe are very low - otherwise the chicken pox vaccine would be on the nhs vaccine schedule.

rositathechair · 13/04/2019 23:11

Dsis caught chicken pox at 6 weeks or so from parents friends kids, Mum remembers that the doctors both came out as did HV and midwife etc - youngest baby in village for a v v long time . She was fine despite being covered head to toe , no long term effects , no scars or anything .

Original poster
Justabitcheesedoff · 13/04/2019 23:15

@Mummyto2munchkins hope your little one is feeling much better now!

OP posts:
Original poster
Justabitcheesedoff · 13/04/2019 23:17

Dsis caught chicken pox at 6 weeks or so from parents friends kids, Mum remembers that the doctors both came out as did HV and midwife etc - youngest baby in village for a v v long time . She was fine despite being covered head to toe , no long term effects , no scars or anything.

Oh my giddy aunt, 6 weeks?! That's so small Shock so glad she was okay and no long term complications!

OP posts:
Mummyto2munchkins · 13/04/2019 23:25

He is thankyou justabit - hope your little one is lucky and doesn't have them this time round till you can get the vaccine!

FlutteringFeathers · 14/04/2019 00:13

Literally just joined to say you can get any child over 9 months vaccinated in cases of exposure (like this) or outbreak situations. It's recommended within 3 days of exposure, where it may prevent noticeable infection or at least lessen the course of the illness. If you can't get it within 3 days, within 5 days is probably still useful, though less so. If you google "varivax spc" you can read the specifics about the brand that we use here, though your GP may have a different brand. Definitely worth trying. My son had his first vaccine and then caught chicken pox before he was due his follow up second vaccine (it's not common, but not super rare either), and exactly as would be suggested by the CDC data on children in that category he had an extremely mild illness course (just that first vaccine offers extremely high rates of protection against severe illness and serious complication rates are tiny). If your child gets one at less than 12 months they may require an extra booster at a later date, discuss with your GP (the minimum spacing is at least 3 months if they have the first under 12 months, rather than the usual minimum of 1 month).
In summary, sorry for such a long message but there totally is something you can do, and soon!

Ihatehashtags · 14/04/2019 06:20

Just vaccinate her as soon as you can. You can’t do much else.

Forgiven · 14/04/2019 06:32

Fingers crossed, OP.

Can I hijack and ask what other posters would do in my shoes? Neither DS (7), DH nor I has had chicken pox, despite DS being exposed to it at nursery and school. We’ve decided to get DS vaccinated for it, but are wondering whether we should also vaccinate ourselves?

cptartapp · 14/04/2019 07:21

DS2 was ten days old when he caught CP off his older brother. It was very mild as I was bf, only had half a dozen spots. Now 13 and never had it again.

Yura · 14/04/2019 07:40

The extra annoying thing is that these early and light cases often don’t lead to immunity- so you‘ll still need to vaccinate even if she gets it ( my youngest got vaccinated 1 day after exposure and was fine!)

lljkk · 14/04/2019 07:44

I know a fair few babies (under 4months, including DD) who had CP without it being severe or any complications.

slipperywhensparticus · 14/04/2019 07:47

My two sons often share a bed and at the time a bath eldest came down with the pox I kept youngest off too assuming as they had shared a bat (occasionally a bloody toothbrush) and a bed together he would have it too he spent a couple of weeks with his brother not one spot appeared so I returned them both to school when the eldest was over it predictably within two weeks of going back to school he caught it from someone else Confused apparently it's not always easy to catch

Nairobe · 14/04/2019 07:51

We’ve decided to get DS vaccinated for it, but are wondering whether we should also vaccinate ourselves?

Can you ask your GP surgery? They may test for immunity first. Dcousin is immune despite not having, however the doctor suspected she has unknowingly had it and had one spot that wasn't noticeable as CP or something similar.

thaegumathteth · 14/04/2019 07:56

Try not to panic. Ds was exposed to chickenpox LOADS of times (not intentionally!) including sharing food etc with a kid who came out with it that afternoon. He didn’t catch it until he was 5 and we’ve no idea where he actually got it from. Dd was a few weeks older that your dd then and she also caught it. It wasn’t fun but she was ok. I know there can be complications and it’s hard when it’s happened to someone close to you but try and reason and remember that the chances are small, and medicine has moved on, and you will be watching her like a hawk.