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'd say you really can't go. However, if you know the ground and event well enough, you'll know if you can really keep away from others, ie no queuing, view from a good distance away, no using toilets/wanting to get a drink.

My friend caught chickenpox early in her pregnancy and lost the baby as a result. Please tell your husband not to be so bloody selfish.

No if I was in your position I will not bring them to the event. Your son is still contagious.

My niece nearly died when her chickenpox became infected. They had to stop the ambulance on the motorway. Most children have no real issues with pox apart from some discomfort but it's not worth risking the child who might die. Please please don't do this

So your kid gives chicken pox to another kid, who takes it home to their pregnant mum, and their sibling is born with birth defects that will impact their whole life.
Of course it is not ok.

My ds has lifelong complications from the cp he caught as a baby (when too young to be vaccinated). We were in hospital for a long time and he was very poorly. He’s 11 now and it will impact him the rest of his life (lung damage & hearing loss).

Please don’t go.

I wasn’t aware that a vaccine existed until I found out from a friend who’d lived in Australia for a while that her daughter had been vaccinated. I’m cross that the UK don’t do it as standard. If I’d known about it I’d probably have paid for it, but when it you have young kids there’s so much going on you don’t automatically think of these things, and if no one is talking about it it’s just not going to occur to you. My youngest really suffered and one of my daughter’s school friends ended up in hospital. If I had a do over I’d definitely have vaccinated, but at the time I had no idea it was an option.

That child didn't cause your shingles. It doesn't work like that.

I disagree with the people saying the younger children could be infectious or should be kept away.

Until/unless the younger dc show signs of CP, they should carry on as normal.

If you have three dc, there's every chance that you may have at least one of them down with CP for up to 9 consecutive weeks, if they all get it back to back rather than at the same time - I know many cases where this has happened.

Keeping children closeted away indoors 'just in case' for this length of time is not reasonable.

Sorry but you can get it more than once. I had it as an adult and definitely had it as a child. It is probably the worst illness I ever had. I was delirious and a single pair with a toddler at the time. It was awful.

Another reason to be responsible as you can't assume all adults are fine.

Of course you don't go.

That's an awful thing to do.
Wow.
Other people could be made very ill because of your decision.

Interesting. My mother swears her shingles was 'activated' by contact with chickenpox. I always thought she was wrong but seems a big coincidence.

Absolutely not ok.

I'm really surprised you even ask this...surely you know you don't take a child with a highly contagious illness that can be quite serious to an event?

If they aren’t all scabbed over then no, absolutely not. You know the answer already but are seeking validation to be selfish.

No.

From a parent whose child was left with countless scars that remain visible a decade later

100% ... No

Do not go. My elderly father caught shingles from a child with chicken pox because they thought it would be ok. He was bed bound for well over a month and still recovering. It's not just about you

Contact with active chickenpox is supposed to boost the immune system and help prevent shingles. It was one of the reasons that UK wasn't offering the CP vaccine as it could then theoretically increase cases of shingles.

I have an immunocompromised child. We opt for outdoor events because they’re safer. If he comes into contact with pox he has to go onto anti virals to stop him from getting pox and the associated complication of death.

I am astonished this is even a discussion.

I hope your husband agreed that it would be incredibly risky to others to take them.

Sorry you got so much grief here - lots of people didn't bother to fully read your post, pretty obvious that a father rather than a mother would want to push on and still go in these circumstances. Hopd he's not generally an arse.

No they didn't as you can't get shingles from CP

Same. I live in an European country and we paid for it (around £100ish for 2 doses) but I thought it’s very important

Your mother is wrong.

Well I hope you manage to convince your DH not to go, OP. Your child is still contagious and risk to absolutely everyone else. It's incredibly selfish to knowingly put others at risk like this. It doesn't matter that you won't chit chat with other people; it can be spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or from surface contamination.