Arse. Can you get chicken pox more than once? Your experiences?

[NorbertDentressangle]

GP reckons that DD has chicken pox. He didn't sound 100% convinced though (and neither am I)

To be fair, if it wasn't for the fact that she's had it before I would have thought that it does look like a mild dose of chicken pox.

Shes fine in herself no other symptoms other than these spots.

Obviously we've got to keep her off school until they all dry out but there have been some spots for the last week or two so shes obviously been to school, parties etc whilst contagious.

Anyone else had chicken pox more than once, or had anything that looked like it?

Yes, you can have it twice. I have, although the second time was quite mild.

Yep, my DD had it three times in 6 months!

Except it turned out that she hadn't - we got sent to A&E the final time so they could do tests, and apparently it was actually a post-viral rash. I seem to remember they said it was a form of urticaria, and wasn't a problem unless the spots scarred, in which case they'd need to do skin biopsies.

It looks very similar, and fooled the GP completely. Maybe your DD has the same?

3 times in 6 months . What a nightmare.

Did the urticaria spots have that pustule-like look of chicken pox spots? I always think of urticaria being more of a swelling/raised area

Yes I've had it twice, first time fairly mild second time my mum said it was so bad I was a walking scab! I think she is exaggerating but you get the picture!

Laura -a friend of mine who had chicken pox as an adult was covered like I've never seen before so I get the idea! She said she had spots on spots.

The DC have never had it too badly (touches wood quickly).

Depends on the age she first had it. Children's immunity is not fully established until they are about 3, so if she had it before then then she could get it again, but probably not as bad. Immuno suppressed people can get it again too, it becomes reactivated in their system. Hope that helps.

She was exactly 1 yo when she had it before and it was quite mild.

After seeming fine last night and first thing this morning she seems to be suffering a bit now -high temp, hot/cold and a snuffly nose. She's had some calpol.

ds had chicken pox at 5 1/2 months and then had shingles at the age of 3. Are the spots spread over her body or are they in a localised area - ds's shingles spots followed a line on his trunk under his armpit.

It could be shingles, but if the rash is widespread I would guess tat it is chickenpox again, and that she didn't develop immunity last time.....sorry. Hope she is feeling a bit better with the calpol.

Ds has had it 3 times first twice he had mild outbreaks, had about 20 spots on neck and back he was 3/4 at the time then he got full outbreak when he was 5 he was covered from head to foot spots in hair everywhere.
Until then I didn't realise you could get chicken pox more than once.

Seona- The spots are mainly on her torso with quite a few around her shoulders and armpits. Only a few on arms and legs.

SparkleRainbow -a few mums at school said the same as you about it being possible to get it again if they are very young the first time.

Still no idea where she caught it this time. I've asked around and nobody knows anyone with it.

OH had it twice - once as a small child, and again aged 22: very ill and nasty the second time around.