To be worried about/not want my dc to get chickenpox

[Dowhatdowullywup]

So I went to a party today where a child very obviously had chickenpox.

The mum said they had crusted over but the spots were still there and very red.

I have 2 dc 2 yrs old and 4 months old.

Firstly, AIBU to think these sores still looked active?

Secondly, AIBU to not want my kids to be around it if can be helped and them potentially getting very ill or is it always quite mild in children? Mostly worried about my 4 month old

Not helpful now but get them vaccinated.

The crusts Need to fully formed, until then they are contagious. Pretty stupid behaviour on their part.

Have you considered the vaccine? My DD4 is booked in for next month. It's not inexpensive but cheaper for me than time off work

A child with active chicken pox should isolate until all spots are crusted over, they can still look angry when crusty though. You wouldn’t want your baby to get them, but it’s likely your older child might catch them at nursery or toddlers if you go. Mine caught them at playgroup -a nursery type setting. A child had gone then spots came up overnight she let playgroup know and then the rest of the kids came down with them one by one.

my eldest 2 hardly had any spots and were fine. 3rd child few more spots but also fine. 4th child got them from 3rd and was very unwell so it depends I guess. I’d avoid and vaccinate if you feel strongly enough and can afford it.

I think it's better they get it when young op.

Mine had it as a baby it's hard for them to be in discomfort etc but they are then protected for life

You should have left straightaway and said why; it’s really upsetting when others think it doesn’t matter if your children mix when their child is ill.
Your baby may have some immunity from you. If you want your children vaccinated you can pay for this privately now.

Mine got them at that age. A few uncomfortable days but fine.

DH caught it from the children and it was far more dangerous for him. Getting chicken pox over with in infancy beats catching it in adulthood.

@waterrat how old was your baby when they got it?

Another one who came on to say get the vaccine

you can get it done at boots £180

my dc had the vaccine no issues

I know for many it’s a mild illness but I cba with the uncertainty of when will they get it

just recently there was a thread here big holiday child got chicken pox no thanks

My 9 month old has it and the 3 year old hasn't caught it despite never having had it before.
The crusted over spots are more aggressive-looking than the new ones.

They are really red when they are crusted over and they aren't contagious anymore. My daughter just had them and went back to school when they were red. They are infectious before this stage.

@MyCousinDaphne oh really?! How long do they stay red for then. The mum said they had blistered and crusted already but l i thought it was unusual that they still looked active. I thought once crusted they fade no?

No, they can take up to a month to fully go away. We're two weeks in and she still had little red scabs all over her!

@MyCousinDaphne two weeks since scabbed over or two weeks since start of rash?

My DD1 and DD2 got them together from a party at ages 8 and 6. DD2 recovered easily but DD1 developed thrombocytopenia and spent two weeks in the hospital having platelet transfusions. I made sure DS got the vaccine.

When they first get the spots they are pale pink. They then get a little yellowish white blister on them. This pops and gets a crust on it. They are then quite red with a scab on. My little one got spots two weeks ago, all crusted over by the end of day 6 and went back to school day 7 or 8, I think. Now she has some gone and some still little scabs day 14. The ones left were the biggest/ deepest ones.

They are most infectious two days before spots to five days after and while there are still blisters. But they look much worse after the blisters have gone because they are angrier looking.

I think they have to be 1 year old at least to get vaccinated. My dd had it at a few months old and it was much easier to handle than her older sister. Also she doesn't have scarring while big sis does, not sure if that's due to age or just luck.

You're not protected for life though as you can then up with shingles later in life, I had shingles in my early twenties and was really unwell

Just adding another vote to getting them vaccinated! You can do it from 9 months, my son is having his second very soon. Numerous other countries vaccinate against it.

Your baby should have natural immunity until age 1. If you are not getting them vaccinated you ideally want them to get it at some point in childhood so they have natural immunity in adulthood when the disease can cause serious health issues, especially for pregnant women.

Regarding the vaccination- a doctor friend of mine decided not to get her child vaccinated because getting the disease in childhood is proven to given long lasting immunity- and while the vaccine is proven to be safe and effective it is not known if the immunity will last as long as the immunity brought on by the disease.

Getting chicken pox when adult it's much more worse.
The deal is done anyway.
Incubation period is put to 15days.

My DD, catched chicken pox when she was 3 (at nursery) and I catched from her (1week later).
Getting chicken pox at the age of 36 it's no fun :(.

I understand why you’re worried but it does look pretty angry for a good while after they’ve crusted over so I wouldn’t necessarily distrust the mum. That said, if you’re that worried about your baby (again totally understandable) then vaccinate your older one ASAP as they could pick it up absolutely anywhere and give it to their sibling. Baby can get it when they turn 1, either on the same day as or at least 4 weeks after they have their MMR. My eldest was vaccinated as standard in the US where they give a combined MMRV, my youngest was born in the U.K. so had it privately at Boots for £140.

My DS caught chickpox at 17 months and was neither up nor down with them. The GP who diagnosed him said best to get them young as the effects are far more mild the younger they are.

Get your oldest vaccinated tomorrow or Monday. It should still work to stop them getting it.

Chickenpox*

I had it as an adult. Most unpleasant. Vaccin didn't exist when I was a child. Best to vaccinate than have a sick child. Some have it very badly. Not worth the risk.
As for shingles. You can only have them if you have had chickenpox. VERY unpleasant too. You can't win....