To feel a bit guilty that my dcs have never had chicken pox?

[Sharkirasharkira]

Both dcs are teens or just pre teens and have never had chicken pox. I didn't know anyone who had it while they were younger so they just never came into contact with it.

Tbh though even if I had know someone with it I would have actively avoided them as ds2 is disabled and does not do well with taking medication or having anything applied to his skin. He has small patches of psoriasis as it is and absolutely refuses to let anyone put anything on it so the idea of him having chicken pox all over and not been able to do anything to help him just breaks my heart and he would not understand what is happening to him.

Aibu to feel a bit weirdly guilty that they've never had it when I hear people talk about how much worse it is as an adult? Wonder if I have set them up for more pain and discomfort in the long run

They could get vaccinated if you are really worried?

Private vaccination...

Get them vaccinated! You can get it done at Superdrug

Yes definitely get them vaccinated. It's around £140 for the two vaccinations. I am getting my 2 1/2 year old done. I'm a health professional and seen so many children get so so poorly with it.

Get them vaccinated, as it is much worse for an adult.

I don't understand why you;d feel guilty, though, as it's not something you can control!

I wouldn't feel guilty about it.

My DC1 had it when they were about three. I've no idea where they caught it from as no one we knew had it. Unfortunately it only became apparent they had it the day after we'd attended a children's concert, so possibly a few people there became exposed to it.

DC2 is a teenager now and has never had it. Hopefully they never will.

Don't ask strangers on the internet, ask your GP or a nurse.

On the one hand they're boys (I think from your post), so they can't get it while pregnant.

On the other hand, your son has skin problems so you don't want him catching CP but you also don't know if he may react to the vaccine. Get advice from a professional.

Oh and everyone is different. DH had it as an adult and said it wasn't that bad. A friend had it as a adult and said it wasn't fun at all.

Mine haven’t had it either(my oldest is 8), my older two have been exposed to it (from other children and DH who had shingles) but never had it which surprises me.

I think if we get to the teen years and they still haven’t had it I will get them vaccinated.

Please get them vaccinated. My youngest very nearly died from complications of chickenpox. It does kill more people than other viruses in this country because the other viruses have been vaccinated against.
Obviously some only get a few spots but you also run the risk of nasty scars.

I’ve never had them and I’m in my 30s, however I grew up in the US where they are on the vaccination schedule and was vaccinated again before uni. I was checked when I was pregnant with my youngest and was told I still have immunity. I had my boys vaccinated as well, the oldest when I was pregnant with his brother and his brother at 18 months. My youngest has eczema and my oldest had it at his age and I wasn’t taking any chances. Just have them vaccinated now if you can afford to. My dp (he’s British) caught them twice, the second time being in secondary and he was quite poorly and missed three weeks of school. My dad who had never been vaccinated also caught them twice, the second time being in his early 40s and his case was very mild. He just sat in the couch eating and watching tv for a week. It can vary and even if they do catch after being vaccinated (it’s a live virus), it is said to be a very mild case compared to catching it from someone else.

get them vaccinated! I had it at 18 and honestly it was horrendous. DS had it at 1 and he was fine but I was in bed for 2 weeks solid.

Get them vaccinated!

Agreed with others, get them vaccinated. Mine got it at school and it didn’t make them sick at all but I’d vaccinate if they hadn’t had it by the teen years. It’s horrendous for adults.

Also unsure if one of your children is female but it’s very dangerous for pregnant women to catch it.

as ds2 is disabled and does not do well with taking medication or having anything applied to his skin. He has small patches of psoriasis as it is and absolutely refuses to let anyone put anything on it

I would ask your doctor about the vaccination. They may we'll agree to do both for medical reasons. (The other child to reduce the risk of ds2 catching it)

You should be pleased they have avoided chicken pox. It is very unpleasant and can cause shingles later in life. Shingles are extremely painful. Get them vaccinated, please

DD was vaccinated as a teen after not getting it at all. I think it was worth paying for, but it was expensive.

vaccinated them. We lived in Germany and Austria when my children were younger and it's part of the normal vaccination programme.
dh had chicken pox when he was at university - was not pretty!

You can have immunity from having sub clinical chicken pox. You can catch the disease without demonstrating symptoms.

Might be worth asking the GP if they can check antibodies, if no immunity discuss the vaccine.

It could be that they're immune - I've never had CP, despite being around my siblings and my DC when they did. Probably a good idea to vaccinate, just in case though, or at least discuss it with your GP.

I would vaccinate. My dd didn't have it as a young child though had every opportunity, being around other children when they were discovered to have it etc. Was very ill when she finally caught it as a preteen. With hindsight should have vaccinated, as there was clearly no way I could have made her catch it naturally.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/

It is currently only offered on the NHS to people who are in close contact with someone who is particularly vulnerable to chickenpox or its complications.

I would say you have a good case to argue about him being vulnerable to complications.

I would get them vaccinated. My dc are 2, 5, and 6 and they've all just had it. With my 6 year old it was horrific, his torso was just covered in blisters, which when they burst, hurt him so much, he was so poorly for the week and the whole thing was just awful. It really is like something from the dark ages. If I'd known how bad it can be (and it can be terrible) I would have had them all vaccinated.

Another vote for vaccination - my husband got vaccinated together with our DS, when DS was 2 years old, as us never had it either.

Vaccine wears off though,?