AIBU to take child with chicken pox to an outside event today?

[summerlovingvibes]

Husband has one opinion and I have another. WWYD?

Day 5 of chicken pox for oldest child.
I have 2 other younger children with no signs as yet. But neither have had in the past so probably will get it.

Some scabs starting to form but also still some fresh spots.

Today is booked to go to an outside running event (for kids) this afternoon and we have paid £60 total for this with all children. It was booked mainly for the oldest one who loves to run, but the younger ones will also come and enjoy so I had to buy tickets for all. Outside run with parents, refreshments, few little stalls etc.

Unfortunately oldest one knows about event and has been excited all week - told him about it 2 days before CP started so didn't know to withhold the info.

Would you still take him? Planning on going just for the run, will try to avoid being too close to others. Don't know any other children / parents going so not going to be "chit chatting". Won't go to the stalls / mix and mingle. Will do run then leave.

Husband has one opinion and I have another. WWYD?

I also suspect the OP doesn’t realise why some would want to go for the vaccine (ie because of the risks of CP) if she has to ask if she should go to this event.

It would be reckless and selfish of you OP. It’s really a lot more than an uncomfortable for some, including seemingly very healthy children.

This shouldn't even be a discussion.

The whole lot of you need to stay home.

I know a couple who took their infectious child on a flight. They had no idea if they’d have a pregnant woman or immunocompromised person sitting near them of course. Couldn’t decide if they were stupid or selfish but either way they seriously went down in my estimations.

The reason for you all to stay home is that people with CP are contagious 1-2 days before their symptoms show. If one child in the family has an active case, the others are likely incubating the virus.

Stay home, all of you!

My doctor friends said they’d be vaccinating thier own DC. I just follow what they do tbh.

Their

It is most odd to me that CP is seen as some childhood passage rite.

I agree, it seems like a very old-fashioned view.

Measles, mumps, rubella and CP were all regarded in that way when I was young, because the vaccines hadn't been developed and they were commonplace illnesses. I was nearly hospitalised with measles, and a child at my nursery school died of it.

I'm amazed I didn't get CP until well into adulthood, it seemed to go round the schools every 3 years or so, but I never caught it for some reason.

Were you very unwell with it? I caught it in my early 20s and I think it's the worst I've ever felt!

It’s actual immunity. I was tested before I started nursing.

If crew had seen this they wouldn’t have been allowed to travel

They definitely went to Disneyland Paris with a child with chicken pox.

I wouldn’t take him. There may be vulnerable people there, young old or pregnant that it could be very serious for.

Oh yes I don’t doubt they did, I’m just saying if the crew on board had spotted it during boarding before take off they wouldn’t have been allowed to travel

Our paediatrician advised against it as the immunity does not last, unlike naturally caught chicken pox immunity, which means vaccinated people are more likely to get it as adults which is worse.

@SnakebitesandSambucas

My DH has had chicken pox multiple times and can't retain immunity. He also doesn't sedate easily (nor do our DC, in fact DD woke up mid operation once). And painkillers don't work properly on any of them either.

DH and the DC have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I wonder if there's a link with the chicken pox immunity?

That seems very odd as the Varicella vaccine offers 78% immunity after a single dose and 99% immunity after 2 doses and should last for life.

If they're one of the unlucky ones that do then catch it, it should be very mild.

Most countries now automatically have it as part of the MMRV. The UK is an outlier mainly down to the additional cost.

DD was vaccinated 15 years ago, brought up in inner London and exposed a gazillion times to CP. Never had it.

Your paediatrician needs to brush up on the latest research. 94% of people have immunity 20 years on. It was added to the routine vaccination schedule in the US in 1995 and there has been no explosion of chicken pox among 30 year olds. Additionally, it protects from developing shingles in later life.

Oof, I’d get a new paediatrician if I were you

Except that this didn’t happen as you cannot catch shingles.

Again, shingles is the reactivation of the dormant CP virus that is already in your body and reactivates for reasons such as stress or illness etc. You cannot catch shingles!

Your GP mother needs to go back to medical school.

please do explain to me how a viral infection “turns inwards”. I would love to have that explained.

This didn't happen.

All the healthcare professionals I’ve ever asked about vaccines, from pregnancy ones to Covid, have been unequivocal in advising me to ensure I get them. Just my experience of course.

@ShowOfHands I do have the classic signs of hyper mobility. How do I get the diagnosis of ethler? My mum is a redhead! I don't know if I have burned through my other vaccinations. But definitely rubella as they screened me. Scares me shit less tbh while I'm pregnant.

@ShowOfHands I caught chicken pox at a "pox party" when I was younger!! My sister had it terribly but I was lucky. My kids haven't had any signs of it yet since the vaccine. But if they do get it they might get a mild version. I know someone who had in their 30's and ended up in hospital they were so poorly 😐