Chickenpox - would you rather know?

[Notjustanychristmaspud]

My DD 14 months has just come out in what I think is chicken pox spots, she had a couple of raised marks this morning on her legs but I thought it was the start of an eczema flare up so just put some moisturiser on. I’ve just noticed in that bath that she’s now covered on her arms, tummy and neck too.

This morning we went to a mum and baby group with a group of friends from NCT and yesterday spent the afternoon with my friend and her 2 YO twins. I feel awful about it although I had no idea then.

Would you let them know now or keep quiet and see if their DC catch it? I’m weighing up the potential worry it will cause the parents waiting for it vs the ‘ignorance is bliss’ attitude.

I feel really guilty that their DCs might have it over Christmas too!

I would definitely want to know so I could keep an eye out on my children

Absolutely I'd rather know.

You don't know who in their circle might be especially vulnerable. If you tell them, they are forewarned and can make their own choices.

Yes! There could have been someone in early pregnancy who isn’t immune. Absolutely you must tell them

Please let them know. Some kids have it lightly,the others not so much.

It’s Christmas season,a lot of people will see their relatives. Some of them are immunocompromised.

Of course I’d rather know! You have no idea who they could be mixing with. Chicken Pox for someone immunocompromised can be life threatening.
If you didn’t know your DC was contagious, fair enough. It happens. But now you know you have a responsibility to your friends to let them know.

You should warn the other parents. They may be socialising with vulnerable people and they need to keep an eye on their children. Its very contagious.

Yes, I'd want to know b/c CxPx exposure would make me v cautious. It's really serious for anyone over about 10. No one talks about it, but CxPx can have a COVID effect for adults.

Tell them.

the vaccine can be given within 3 days of exposure and can really help prevent it developing so give them the opportunity.

plus you have no idea if anyone is pregnant or has a vulnerable family member

I'd message them as tell them she came up in what looks like chicken pox spots this afternoon.
That way they can watch out for it.

Yes, I’d rather know especially since this can be such a social time of year and the possibility of spread is increased as contacts are increased. Hope your DD recovers well and quickly

You should definitely tell them. No point in feeling guilty though, these things happen.

Yes because the incubation period is 10 days and pharmacies are shut or working reduced hours over the holidays. Telling people now means they can stock up on Calpol, Calamine Lotion and Piriton.

Yes tell them.

We had a huge outbreak at school recently after a parent snuck a child with mild symptoms in. It's incredibly contagious so within the next two weeks it's likely anyone you have been sat in a room with today who's not got immunity will have it.

At least if they know they can make choices about visiting any vulnerable relatives over Christmas and spreading it further.

Yes you should tell people. Other people's kids might have a "couple of raised marks that looked like the start of an eczema flare up" but might risk seeing elderly grandparents. If they knew that their child had been in contact with yours, they might delay seeing GPs for a couple of days and they go if their child's spots continued to look like an eczema flare up, but not if they looked like chicken pocks after a day or two. This saves a elderly person from potential shingles.

Yes, because they could still vaccinate, if they haven’t already.

Older people don’t get shingles from exposure to children with chickenpox (it may actually protect them against it). They get shingles from having had chickenpox themselves in the past.

Nobody can catch shingles from chicken pox.

Its the other way round - you can catch CP from shingles.

Definitely tell them

With certain viruses it's always best to let people know so they can keep an eye. Especially over a time like Christmas where they'd be doing/seeing more people than usual.

Tell them

You can catch CP from CP if you've NOT had CP
You can catch CP from shingles if you've not had CP
You can catch shingles from CP if you've had CP
Well technically I think the last one is more that CP coming again activates the shingles, rather than catching it.

From the NHS website:
"You cannot spread shingles to others. But people could catch chickenpox from you if they have not had chickenpox before or have not had the chickenpox vaccine."

You can’t catch shingles from CP.

If you catch chicken pox again then you have a second dose of chicken pox which is rare but possible).

You can’t catch shingles.

From the NHs - You cannot get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/

It’s crazy how many people don’t understand shingles.

Absolutely tell them! We had this recently when DS nursery had chickenpox and his best friend had come down with it. Thank goodness we knew, as they’re contagious up to a week or so before spots come out, so DS had definitely been in close contact with the kids who had it. We’d been planning to go and visit our close friends to see them before their baby arrived - friend was heavily pregnant so we stayed clear as it wasn’t worth the risk of passing it on, even though DS didn’t catch it in the end (but we didn’t know that at the time).

Yes tell them. But don’t feel guilty at all. It is one of those things that you can’t control. We had the same - I went on play dates with two separate friends and their kids the day before spots appeared. So I unknowingly spread chickenpox from my son to four other children! I gave them the heads up and it took about 10 days for their kids to show symptoms. In the end we were all a bit relieved they had got it when they were young still and it was (hopefully) over and done with!