To think chickenpox is not guaranteed

[Feelslikespring2]

My DC was exposed to chickenpox over Easter wkend. We have 3 holidays booked for 2 weeks time and are due to be away all of may. It was outside and they were playing for less then an hr and not constantly but did hug and touch.

AIBU to think there's a chance they could of dodged it?? I have 2 DC so trying to work out logistics of holidays and knock on effect and wondering if I should cancel them or not?

I was a baby during chicken pox parties. I never ever got it. Have never had it and I'm 28.

People will say 'oh you got it but not noticeably' but that's untrue as I had tests done before I started immunosuppressive drugs 3 years ago that indicated no chicken pox antibodies and I had to get the vaccine.

So OP they might not get it just like me :)

Might get it , might not. One of mine dodged it in a nursery room where about 90% of kids got it, only to get it a year later when only one other kid got it.
The other one had close contact with her cousin who came out in spots later that day. Didn’t get it but got it a few months later.
Also if they are a bit older than that there’s a chance that they could already be immune. Some kids get a very mild case that goes unnoticed (which is why pregnant women sometimes only find out they’ve had it previously if they have their antibodies checked)
I think I’d sit it out. Good luck!

It's £60 a dose locally, where are you getting your prices Harrods pharmacy!

What’s the cancellation policy? They’ll probably get it. If they don’t get it this time I would vaccinate them. Chicken pox can be hideous. All three of ours had it together. Bad times. I certainly wouldn’t want to be on holiday dealing with it.

Not guaranteed. Chickenpox is going round my DDs' nursery and one of DD1's close friends caught it first, about 5 weeks ago now. Her little brother hasn't caught it despite obviously having very close contact.
My DD1 caught it over two weeks ago and DD2 still hasn't got it - I know we're still within the incubation period but we're past the 14-16 day window that the NHS gives as the main incubation period, and DD2 was probably exposed at the nursery beforehand as well.
Another baby at the nursery did catch it and her older sister (one of DD1's friends) didn't.

It's just impossible to know unfortunately.
DS didn't catch it from DD when he was about 10 months old (possibly immunity from me?) and still hasn't had it despite being in contact at school a few times (now 7).

You never know if they’ll get it or not. People used to - and probably still do - have chicken pox parties where they rubbed children on each other (practically) in the hope of catching it. Still didn’t always get it.

The chicken pox outbreak at my little ones nursery is going on months I swear. They think it's come to an end then boom another two.

I was sent to pox parties and still didn't get it. Got myself vaccinated as an adult.

Sudocrem is brilliant too

It's not guaranteed. I was exposed loads as a kid but didnt get it until I was an adult (no idea where from either, knew no one with it)

My kids caught it 2 weeks apart but none of their friends caught it. Despite a widespread incident (over 60%) of a yeargroup getting it another friends son didn't and got it randomly a year later. I think it would be unusual but it happens!

DC2 never got it when DC1 did despite sharing baths and plenty of cuddles etc

I never caught it when my brother did as a child, then caught it at 18 (probably from babysitting) - luckily it was only mild, I was spotty for a week but not that itchy.

My Ds caught it at school end of summer term - 2 weeks later Dd1 had it then another week Dd2 had it - that was a rough summer holiday!

It’s £75 a dose here. The course is two doses so £150 per child. OP has 2 DC so 2 x £150 = £300. £240 if she moves next door to you

My daughter was exposed multiple times and in closer proximity and didn't get it. She only got it once my son got it so you may be ok. Fingers crossed!

Mine came out with them (just the first few spots) while we were camping with their cousins. Separate tents but right next to each other, playing and hugging etc all weekend. Cousin didn't catch them. No idea how!

You are all giving me a glimmer of hope so thank you very much. I knows it's a total 50/50 situation as many of you have said but it's lifting my pessimism about the coming weeks slighty.

Word is that the scabs take 5 days from first erupting. Was this others experience?

Yes but new spots keep appearing. So we had some scabbed over, while others were new.

My DS dodged it 3 times at nursery last year (once just before a holiday and I thought we were doomed) but never caught it. He's actually got it right now and we have no idea where it came from as no other cases reported in the nursery at the moment.
When my older DS had it at nursery a few years ago his whole room came down with it, not one child was spared so it really is a funny one. Good luck l!

My son was around my brother, being held and playing together when my brother had chicken pox...he didn't catch it. Nor did he catch it the multiple times it went around school.

My daughter also missed it all the times it was at school .... She came out in spots after a school residential/ half term hols and noone else we knew had them.

Son caught them from her 2 weeks later.... His secondary school was shocked as they hadn't heard that absence excuse for a few years 😆

As for how long the spots lasted....DD was about 5-7 days. Ds was longer as his became infected and he had to have antibiotics.

I never got it as a child despite being sent to all the pox parties and my brother getting it, but then caught it from I don't know where aged 22, wasn't pleasant. My DD didn't get it either when it went round nursery and school, got her vaccinated around age 12. She's now 20 and not had it.