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

DS2 got them at a week old off his brother even though I was bf. Very mild.
Now 17 and never had them again.
Probably not to be recommended though.

DS1 had to spend 4 days in hospital after getting chicken pox and it was bloody scary. Made damn sure DS2 was vaccinated a day after he was eligible.

After that experience I cannot help but view the practice of deliberately trying to get your child infected with chicken pox as barbaric.

Did some still look like blisters?
If they get chickenpox under 1 year there is a higher chance of childhood shingles or they may not get full immunity.

My ds caught CP from his sister when he was 5½ months old and then had shingles age 3 which wasn't pleasant for him or me!

Your child was probably more at risk from whoever the poxy child was playing with the two days before their spots appeared.

There are arguments against the vaccine - mostly "herd immunity" arguments. If chickenpox is not circulating because a lot of children have been vaccinated, those who are not vaccinated are less likely to have it as a child, and then may end up with it as an adult, when it is rather more serious. Adults who have had chickenpox also benefit from exposure to the virus (eg from their own children having it), as it boosts their immunity to shingles. Obviously adults who have not had chickenpox do not benefit from that exposure, and that's where vaccination is wise.

Unless there are underlying health issues at play that would make chickenpox particularly dangerous for your DCs, I’d rather them get it while they are little - it’s one of those things that seems to be worse the older you are.
My DCs all had it at the same time, and my 7yo definitely suffered more than my 2yo who got it quite mildly.
My mum never had it as a child, then came down with it when me and my Dsis brought it home from school when we were little. She was in her early 30’s at the time and was very very ill and ended up hospitalised.

I somehow managed not to get chickenpox as a child. I finally caught it in my late teens and it was absolutely horrendous! I wish I'd just had it as a child like my own DC. So either vaccinate them ASAP or just accept it's going to happen and get it over with.

My older two had it at the ages of 3 and the younger one was 7 months. It took 5 weeks to play out across both of them. It’s common for whoever has it first to have a milder dose and for subsequent siblings to have it worse and often to not start getting spots until 2 weeks or so in. My then 3 yr old got it first and had only four spots and no discomfort. My then 7 month old was absolutely covered once he got it two weeks later, but he managed ok. So if you can afford the vaccine it can probably be worth it due to potential risks and also the time it takes for you to get out and about again when multiple children are involved. I’m getting it for my third child.

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

You don't get chicken pox from shingles though

I always assumed chicken pox was mild. DD had it at aged 4. She was so so ill with it and covered all over. I wish I'd known about the vaccine as I'd have got it her. That was a very painful lesson.

If possible I'd get them vaccinated now. Fingers crossed they don't pick it up now from the party.

Well actually you can get chicken pox from shingles if you have contact with fluid from the blisters

Chicken pox is common (don't most kids get it?) and not something I'd be all that concerned about. Once you have had them you then have natural immunity.
Again the younger they get it the better or get the vaccine.

I got it when I was 36. I was really bloody ill, then a few years later, I got the first of several attacks of shingles, followed by post-herpetic neuralgia.

There weren't vaccinations for it when I was a child.

Best not to get it under 1 year though as you then have a higher chance of childhood shingles

I wouldn't knowingly expose my child to CP

@dementedpixie ha I meant you don't get shingles from chicken pox. What a dick.

I think that poster meant that although you may be protected for life from CP you are then at risk of getting shingles due to having had chicken pox in the past

I've had both mine vaccinated, and if I remember rightly from the info they gave out, you can go for the vaccine soon after exposure and it should prevent or if they do come down with it then it should be mild. It's expensive but I felt it was money well spent.

GAet your DC vaccinated as it can be serious. I've never had it despite Dd having it when smaller and my brothers having it when we were children. I need to get round to sorting out having the vaccine as I'm always really worried when it's doing the rounds.

My DD has chicken pox over 6 weeks ago and she still has some spots that are fading. Apart from having spots you wouldn't of thought anything was wrong with her. Every child deals with it differently.

I wouldn't mistrust the mum either. My DDs spots first appeared 4 weeks ago and she still has some. They still looked very red about 2 weeks later. Once they are no longer contagious there's no need to not let your child go out, they are more contagious before the spots appear anyway.

Most cases are very mild, but agree with pp if you are really concerned have your children vaccinated when you can.

I was told by my GP that you can get Chicken Pox a second time. Not in the form of shingles either.

Its rare to get it again so you usually get immunity from having it.

My daughter just started with her rash last night and today very definitely has chicken pox. She had been unwell for a few days before but it was normal cold symptoms so I didn't catch on until the rash came up.
So considerate of the pox to wait until the school holidays 😂

I wish I'd known about the vaccine sooner, I'd have definitely got her it. Unfortunately I hadn't realised and found out today, but nevermind!

My son had chickenpox age 5. He ended up in hospital with a severe bacterial infection because of it. I wouldn’t wish chickenpox on anybody and anyone who thinks it’s okay to have chickenpox parties are insane. If the vaccine was around back then I would have definately got it

Very irresponsible of them to just show up at a party, it’s not only a matter of other children but they’re dangerous to pregnant women who never had them / aren’t vaccinated and to immune compromised people. I definitely would have said something. I had them as a child, no active memory of it, but made sure DS got vaccinated. As is the standard in many countries.

It's pretty unusual ime for kids not to get CP at some point during childhood and the better before school age. Ds had it at 18 months and was smothered all over in them but looked more alarming than it was.