To think there is a nationwide epidemic of chicken pox?

[LucyEllensmummy]

Everywhere i go i see "poxy" kids!!! There is a notice up in playschool that various children have it. I see them in the park, in the shops. OK, so its localised. But yesterday we go out to hastings, a two hour drive from us, in the next county and what do i see - "poxy" kids on the fairground rides!!

Am I just noticing it more because i have a DD of the age who is likely to contract it - I am very hey ho about it, and if she gets it she gets it. (might stock up on calomine lotion though, in case people start panic buying). Is it that CP usually is rife at this time of year, or is there actually an epidemic, and if so - why?

We have it here in Salisbury too

Thanks hazeyjane - was talking myself into a right flap here!

Northernlurker - real concern over your cousins wife. Many years ago I visited relatives in Italy and returned. A week later we were told that their kids had come down with chicken pox. At the time my mum was undergoing chemotherapy. I had come back and as we were really close hugged her etc etc. I had never had chicken pox, and did not develop it but 10 days later my mum developed chicken pox and had to be kept in isolation on a cancer ward, something none of us needed. She had already had chicken pox years before. Just beware around the immunosuppressed.

From what I've read you can't catch shingles, it occurs when someone has had chickenpox in the past so it stays dormant in your system and can flare up as shingles if your immune system is weak. The issue would be if the lady recieving the cancer treatment has never had chickenpox as you wouldn't want to risk her getting it.

Yep, around the immunosupressed, chicken pox is potentially dangerous even if they have had it before. Sorry!

NL - friend of mine undergoing cancer treatment now has shingles, which is what chickenpox can be in an adult. Worried for her she says not icthy but awful headaches.

No don't be sorry - really glad you've mentioned it before it's an issue! I'm being really thick aren't I - immunosuppressed means that your immune system isn't working so having had it before won't help! Doh!

Not stupid at all!
Hope everything is okay and you can go.

If you have contact with someone who's immunosuppressed then it's worth explaining the situation to your GP. The vaccine is available on the NHS for certain situations and I'm pretty sure those with immunosuppressed relatives are one of the categories.

Thanks Grendle - I will enquire asap!

Grendle - yes I also heard that close relatives of children undergoing chemo are given the cp vaccine as a precaution.

Ds has had CP, so has quite a few kids we know! Luckily ds had it only mild. Going round severasl nurseries in my area.

My dd has just recovered. Still spotty though. We thought she wouldn't be able to go and visit her uncle who has cancer but apparently it's fine.

BiL's cancer doctor said he's be fine to see my dd, just not to hug her or use the same towels or anything.

I had my DS 14 months vaccinated 2 weeks ago.

No problems, does have a 'spot' at the injection site but other than that he has been fine. All his friends are now getting it, some not to badly at all. I am happy with our choice to vacciante glad we did. Will ask about a booster though as its still new ish in the UK. Nurse did seem to think he would need one though.

sorry didn't seem to think he would need another one.

,

How do you get the vaccine? Ds2 had a terrible experience with chicken pox and I am keen for ds3 to not have to experience it. He is still too little (7 months), but i would certainly consider it after he is 1.

I phoned our practice manager and she said we could get it done at the neighbouring surgery and pay for the perscription. My GP was less keen I have to say, he felt it was a normal childhood illness. I just felt it was a horrible one and preventable so why suffer?

Your poor DS2, how bad was it?

I had my baby's paediatrician give him the vaccine when he turned one. I could also have had it done at our GP's surgery.

In the UK arabicabean? Did they mention a booster?

Yes. The consultant spent a long time discussing the vaccine. He did mention the current literature in the U.S on post vaccination immunity, but it is still to early to know for certain.
We will probably review the situation in a few years time.

I know a child who due to complications from chicken pox had to have their leg amputated. Might be a normal childhood disease but complications do exist and can be very serious.

I'm seeing spotty babies all around Putney in the past week.

I was relieved to confirm this morning that 22 month old DS2 had his vaccine at his 12 month appt in the U.S. before we came over. I believe they are now recommending a booster between ages 4 and 6 in the U.S.

As I understand it, the UK is holding off making it standard because of some risk that there will be a short term increase in shingles in adults whose own resistance to shingles is improved with regular exposure to kids with CP. Having had shingles (during pregnancy) I can affirm that shingles sucks.

If I were having my kid immunized here and now I would wonder about how to time it so that I wasn't giving the shot when my child had already been exposed. Not sure it matters, but I would wonder if it does...

sassafrassj even if your DC had the vaccine after being exposed, the vaccine would make it far less serious.

Interesting about the booster I will have to remember that. Re the shingles from what I read once everyone is immune to Chicken pox wouldn't shingles dissapear too?