What can we do- chicken pox

[OutDamnPox]

So after a couple of days of tired/complaining/paleness, kids have woken up today covered in spots. Then casually mentioned that several children in their classes have got it too. It’s our half term this week so that’s all the plans cancelled.

the problem is that one of the kids has ASD and ADHD and isn’t coping with the idea of quarantining very well. I was thinking we might do a walk this afternoon. It’s a walk from our home and there’s loads of space so I would make them move as far away as possible if we saw anyone. From what I’ve read, it’s transferred by close contact so it should be ok right?

We looked at the vaccine for DD, but it cos several hundred £, as you need 2 doses.

I know

I had hoped we were more educated about the potential dangers by now

It does cost a fair bit @MabelMaybe - depending on your job, and how many kids you have, and what happens if you need to take around a week off per child, it might still work out as a sensible option in financial terms!

It's been recommended to be offered free on NHS but will probably take years to actually come through.

Definitely do the walk.

I personally wouldn't meet up with healthy kids, but if it's going round their friends you could put the word out to see if anyone else who's already infected fancies a playdate.

I’m not advocating chicken pox parties, just saying I’m from that generation.
Also the younger they get it the better, it’s not a mild disease in your teens, anything but.
Plus there are plenty of kids who have already had it and are immune whose family would be ok about a play date.

You literally said "if friends what to get it out the way, then a playdate is always good." What does that mean if not (at least an approximation of) "hold a chicken pox party" ?
i.e. deliberately infect others, which is certainly what I have always taken that phrase to mean.

It's really not a good idea.

DTs were hospitalised with CP, no underlying health conditions. I wish I had known about the vaccine.

My Dd was 13 months old when she had chickenpox needing treatment for 6 weeks. The little boy (toddler) in the next hospital with it died.

I wouldn't mind socialising with DC with chicken pox because mine have had it. Perhaps you can arrange play dates with those in a similar situation.

Also I think the doom and gloom regarding CP isn't great for op whose child currently has it. Op, for most children it's a mild illness.

i suspect they won’t be up for that second walk and will flag 10 mins in to the first walk

That's fine. When my younger one had it I still had to do the school run for the older ones, so I put the little one in a pushchair and just told people to stay clear!

(not that you should put your children in a pushchair if you're taking them out! Just that it's not always possible/necessary to quarantine like it's 2020 🤷‍♀️)

Ps the vast majority of children will get chickenpox. If there are parents who know that their children are compromised in some way, and who absolutely must not catch it, it's up to them to get their kids vaccinated. In fact, it's potentially harmful to let any child reach adulthood without having had chickenpox or the vaccine.

So we did a twenty minute bike ride and they’re full of it still so will probably do the second walk after lunch!

for everyone discussing meeting up with others, we definitely won’t be doing that! I wouldn’t want to risk infecting others just in case

This!! Both of mine were vaccinated as soon as they were able.
A friends daughter was hospitalised.

I paid £75 per dose in Boots within the last few months.
I would have to pay more than that in missed childcare. But the main motivation is for DC not to be ill, it can be serious and people suggesting to catch it are really naive or stupid.

out of interest, do you have children?

I got it in my 30s and was really bloody ill.

And I got repeated attacks of shingles for years afterwards, which was incredibly painful.

are you happy in life?

because i can’t fathom someone posting that about a mother briefly taking two young children to an isolated park with the intention of keeping then well away from others… unless they were pretty unhappy in life generally

Does anyone have info on the long term efficacy of the CP vaccine (30 years +)? It is more likely to be a serious illness as the patient grows older, so interested in this.

And hope those children at your party don't get seriously ill

well it would be the children’s parents hoping that, given they made the decision to go ahead with the play date

My health visitor really tried to put me off saying 'he'll be fine if he gets it' I said yes but I can't take two weeks off work and he'll be upset and in pain surely it's better to avoid that?

There are lots of studies from America and Australia because they vaccinate children there. UK doctors have consistently asked for there to be a vaccination programme here. This is an easy to read one.
https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/the-chickenpox-party-is-over-as-scientists-call-for-uk-vaccine-rollout