Another chicken pox Q: how close is too close?

[Mij]

Genuine Q, obvs I don't want to selfishly pass CP on to others, particularly at Christmas, but also don't want to cancel everything if it's not necessary. So, what counts as 'promixity play' regarding infectious CP? We can walk down the street, but can I take poxy child to the library for example? She's 5.5 so will be able to understand staying away from people. Plus I'm sure we won't avoid 2yo sister getting it but not all g/parents have had CP and she may well be gearing up for spots when they're due to visit, plus one of them has a Big Birthday to celebrate and they all live 100s of miles away. What to do? Will be v hard to get DD2 to understand reduced cuddles with GPs :-(

WHen mine had chicken pox I didn't really take them out while infectious. A little walk may be okay but not to a playground as kids do get very close to each other. I certainly wouldn't take het to the library.

As for seeing family, as long as they are happy with it I would take her to see them but warn them first. CP as an adult is really unpleasent.

In the same room is too close, CP is very contagious.
No to library or any enclosed public places.
No to birthday/party unless everybody who is coming is informed and has agreed.
You will have to skip seeing the GP who didn't have it.

no I wouldnt go anywhere where you will have contact with other people so I would avoid the library. She will be contagious until the spots crust over which is normally 5-7 days from when they start to appear. The incubation period is 10-21 days so it could be a wee while before you find out if your other dd has it (it was 14 days between my dd and ds getting chicken pox)

Chicken pox is airborne, so you definitely shouldn't take her anywhere enclosed. According to the 'Birth to Five' book the NHS hands out it is infectious for four days before the child starts showing symptoms and five days thereafter. Once the spots start to scab over your child is no longer infectious. Both my DC have had chicken pox in the past month (the baby still has it), so I'm sadly well versed in it!

P.S. Definitely warn anyone who is due to come into contact with you all over Christmas. A grandparent getting CP (or any adult), could become extremely ill. I'm guessing the grandparents will have had it though - not many people get to adulthood without getting it - but it really is best to check and be totally upfront. You don't want to be responsible for a serious illness in an older person.

Thanks. To clarify, yes I'm also well versed in incubation and infectious periods as we've had lots of contact with poxy kids before, and a few 'is it isn't it' spots that in the end turned out to be 'it isn't.' And yes I know it's worse in older folk, that's why we're being cautious, and OF COURSE we're telling every one so they can make their own judgement, plus those we've inadvertently been in contact with in the last couple of days. But as we've had so much contact in the past and not got it I just wanted to establish what 'contact' really means in the context of CP.

It also isn't helping that at least 2 of the GPs aren't sure if they've had it or not. Including my Mum. But as I had it age 8 I find it hard to believe she'd have avoided it then, if she hadn't had it before. Just going to keep my fingers crossed that DD2 gets it sooner rather than later then at least we can make decisions based on fact.