to wish I hadn't given son the MMR?

[hytter]

I read everything, spoke to everyone, felt like I was doing the right thing, now 1 week later he has a temp of 40.3, been sleeping for 2 days, crying, unhappy, moody, cross etc etc.

I am exhusted, worried he may "regress" like I kept reading..........what have I done......

Chickenpox can be a very big deal for the immune-suppressed. And even if a child isn't immune-suppressed, they could pass it to someone who is.

In the UK 1 hundred children a year suffer severe complications caused by the disease ? several of whom die. It can be very nasty. In US and Canada among other places, it is given with the MMR, the MMVR. I have chosen to wait 6 weeks until after the MMR. He may well catch the pox during that time, if not I would like him to be vaccinated. It is well tolerated and given in the UK to anyone working for the NHS who hasn't had the pox.

DD was very poorly after her first MMR, she had a temperature, was floppy, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink. She is absolutely fine, a year down the line. And she has recently had her second MMR with no reaction at all.

Trouble is not everyone does get it as a child and if you get it later on its much worse.

"And she has recently had her second MMR with no reaction at all"

That's very reassuring Horton as I was wondering about the booster. thank-you

I understand Riven but we have lots of friends with children who were really unwell, ended up with scars etc......I just want to avoid, if I can, giving him a week of scratching and upset. In the case of Chicken Pox vaccine I think its side effects are no where near the effects of the real thing.

Varicella vaccine also reduces the morbidity from chronic severe post herpetic neuralgia cuase by shingles. Costs the NHS a fortune and causes distress+++ and is a common condition. DS1 has had chickenpox but am considering getting VZ vaccine privately for DS2.

RachePache thats alot of big words but I think I get it! I also read that there were 112 cases last year, all requiring hospital treatment, with conditions such as pneumonia, blood poisoning, encephalitis, ataxia (loss of control of limbs), toxic shock and necrotising fasciitis (the flesh-eating bug). Six deaths were recorded. It really isn't nice and like you say must cost the NHS a great deal.

Chickenpox in children is generally a mild disease. However, in adults it can be extremely unpleasant and can result in severe pneumonia, meningitis etc.
My DH is diabetic and did not have chickenpox as a child. Now we have a son who will (hopefully) catch it at some point in early childhood and I am worried, not for him, but for DH. I keep trying to convince him to see his GP about vaccination.

MaryPoppins - sorry forgot to translate into English from medicalese. This explains what PHN is, better.

I got chicken pox when I was 24, having been exposed to it multiple times as a kid but never managing to actually get it. It was bloody horrible. I'd have loved a vaccine, thanks v much!

I never had chicken pox as a child (although my three brothers did at the same time) I really worried about dd1 catcing it and bringing it home as everyone told me it's awful for adults...dd1 and dd2 got it at the same time and I still never caught it...weird? am i immune?

Actually, being a little unwell following a vaccine is in some ways reassuring, if you think about it. I don't mean regression etc, but if your baby's immune system is clearly kicking in with a temp etc, then surely that means they're gearing up to make antibodies etc? Which is what we want!

my dd had the mmr on thusday and has been very moody and clingly, everytimes I leave the room she screams and cries and when I return she wants cuddles for ages after.

also she has not slept more then normal (would have been glad of the break tbh) or got a temperature.

I thought it was rubella not chickenpox that had a vaccine - or is it both?

Horton your right! It clearly is working! Sorry you didn't get the chance to get the pox jab, that's unfair to have avoided you for so long then knock you for 6 with it later on!

Dropdeadfish, odd? Maybe you could get a blood test to see......I bet your not though......

I feel for you newlysinglemummy, hope she is better soon!

Noonki - both hun. Rubella on the NHS, pox privatly unless you live in US etc etc

thanks for that

Can I just add that chicken pox can be very nasty - and not just since the vaccine came along. My nephew nearly died from it when he got it (stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated), and was left with permanent damage to his hips. It's rare, but it happens.

OP, try not to worry about your DS - there are some nasty bugs around at the moment and there are also some sideeffects from the MMR, but in the vast majority of cases they're temporary while their bodies build immunity.

You made the best decision you could as a parent, and that's all any of us can do.

In the recent outbreak here, 14 IIRC of the 16 infected p[oeple had been vaccinated so does vaccination push the disease into riskier age groups I wonder (such as mumps in adolescents?)

DS4 is having separate jabs but the others had MMR and I can understansd why you would choose it.

hytter call GP tomorrow always wortha check over but chances are he'll be fine, so many viruses going around atm.