Another chicken pox question!!

[monkeymiss]

Sorry if this has been covered before elsewhere.

DD2 has CP. We're on day 3 of spots.

DD1 hasn't had it yet. Can she still go to preschool next week (subject to getting CP herself of course.)

I'd still send her. I sent my ds1 whilst ds2 had CP. Although it is likely, dd1 might not get it, and if she does and you keep her at home now, you're looking at maybe well over 3 weeks!!!!!!! I'd cry if I had to stay at home with my ds1 for 3 weeks

She may be infectious or she may not. There's no way to tell and the incubation is up to 21 days. So you could keep her at home next week and then send her back the next week only for her to explode a few days later. If you keep her at home for three weeks every time she's exposed you would never send her. Plus it's spring - peak time for CP - so tbh playgroup is probably hooching with kids who are either hatching it or have siblings who are. Dd3 gave it 25 children at nursery last year - I had no idea she'd been exposed but tbh even if I had I couldn't have kept her at home for three weeks. CP is rife in the community, we don't practice isolation anymore so yes in my opinion she can go next week and the week after up until the time she becomes symptomatic - if she does.

There will be some posters along shortly no doubt though to call us both child murdering selfish cows for even thinking this. CP gets people very wound up.

Thanks Silvery and Northern.

I've been learning a lot about CP in the last few days. It does indeed get people wound up if this thread is anything to go by. Understandable really - you have a virus which you don't know you have until it's too late, and whilst it's no issue for the vast majority of people, it can be a big deal for a few people who might not want to share that they have cancer, HIV or are 6 weeks pregnant.

Northern - you say that "we don't practise isolation anymore." That's the crux of it for me. I think DD1 should go. But I will tell the preschool first.

I now wish I'd waited till I was more informed before cancelling DD1's birthday party!!!!!!!!

Yes telling the pre-school is a good idea although tbh any child with a suppressed immune system really shouldn't be in that environment anyway as unfortunately there is NO way to exclude the possibility of all sorts of bugs. Even something like slapped cheek which the majority of the population barely even notice getting can be dangerous to those with reduced immunity.

I believe they are most infectious just before spots come out! Day before especially it's hard to judge when most infectious bless you hope you got your supplies in. A friend recommended Virasoothe to me as opposed to the calamine lotion which worked brill seemed to take the sting out out of all spots neither of my girls scratched at all so no scars, think you can get it on prescription althO not sure dr's advertise the fact as more expensive than a bottle of calamine! Definitely worth a try and it's dead simple to use no smell either as it's a clear gel. Anyway hope they aren't too poorly with it best wishes Jo