Should I be concerned DD hasn't had chicken pox yet?

[bettyspaghetti33]

My DD is 16 months and has not had chicken pox yet. I know she's still quite little but I'm concerned that she needs to get it soon because its meant to be a fairly nasty thing to get when you're older. Anyone had any experience of this?

It's nasty as an adult, not great as a teen, any time before puberty and after early infancy is equivalent (as good as it gets). I wouldn't worry at all at 16 months. I wanted mine to get it before school started, just thought that would be ideal. Succeeded with 3/4.

Ds got it at 4 and dd got it at 14 months. Both got lots and lots of spots but neither of them were especially 'ill'.

Don't worry at all.

Mine had it at 4 and 8, and were quite poorly but I've heard of babies being very poorly with it too. So I'd say as long as she's still a child, preferably not in her teens when she will be far more self conscious, you'll be alright.

Don't panic yet.

If you are very worried, you can get her vaccinated, although it is pricy- about £100.

Thanks all for your replies, sounds nice and reassuring :)

I rang my mum to discuss it who said in her day people had chicken pox parties where a child known to have it would have half the neighborhood kids round in order for everyone to catch it and get it over with

I would never recommend exposing a non verbal child to CP, it can have complications for someone healthy. It can be fatal for someone who is immune surpressed.

I had it at 17 not my favourite summer hols but hey not tge end of the world either.

I had it when I was 9 and was itchy but fine.

I had it at 10 and was so bad I was almost hospitalised. I would consider immunising.

have a 5 year old dd with chicken pox and she is really ill,me and her dad have had no sleep and i mean no sleep for 2 days as she is itching screaming crying and very distressed he ears seem to be the main problem as they are just full of pox and very painfull, she has high temperature and full of cold with it, Dr says nothing we can do apart from keep up with the calamine, calpol and piriton which to be hones seems to do naff all....2 extremely grumpy parents and one very sad miserable 5 year old.....all in dire need of sympathy..... [buconfused]

3kids are they sure she doesn't actually have an ear infection as well...

exactly what happened to dds when she 11 months old - after 3 days of not sleeping at all (dd that is) I had a hissy fit called a rubbish locum out he admitted her to hospital at my insistance and finally 12 hours after admission they looked in her ears and realised the problem was an ear infection masked by a hideously bad case of c-pox!

Eurax is very good for the itching, it isn't a miracle cure for everything but certainly helped with that.

I hope you are over the worst of it soon. mine were bad for a few days but then right as rain.

Yes second that about the ear infection. Do get it checked out x

I got it when I was 19 - totally fine.

Looked lovely on the beach on my hols 1 week later.

My DD is 5 and hasn't had it yet, I think I had it when I was about 7 or 8 and it was fairly manageable - I understood not to scratch and it really wasn't that bad.

thanks girls, we managed to get a doc out tonight, he given her antibiotics for her ear just incase as her ear is sooooo sore and full of pox he really didnt want to touch or look inside, but she does seem a bit better been asleep for a couple of hours now so fingers crossed we have passed the worse now x

Have you considered the vaccination?

I got it in the middle of my O levels. Not very ill but nearly died of embarrassment as I had to do my exams on the stage in the exam hall as the school thought that was proper isolation

Mine had it when they were (iirc) 3, 6 and 8 and it was okay. Only issues were with DD (the 3 yo) getting spots in her vagina which was intensely painful for her (ended up going to OOH GP who gave us something to clear them up).

I've never had them and was very nervous, but I've been exposed so much and still never caught it I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'm immune.

She's the ideal age to get vaccinated. It costs 50-60 quid locally. Money well spent when you consider the potential complications of the disease that you avoid .

DD2 is 5 and hasn't had it yet. I'm 18wks pregnant and worried she will get it now when I am least equipped to deal with it!
DH didn't get it till he was 20 and it was hideously awful :( says the man who has chopped a finger off on a table saw!

She may never get it? Im 27 and have never had it despite various friends having it and my sis having it twice. My dad has never had it either. Maybe she's just a carrier of it, rather than a 'sufferer' of it?

My dd got it from me. I never had it as a child. I got it when i was 30 and dd was 2. Mine were mostly on my face and i also had them in my mouth/throat. Then my grandad got it after dd and he was absolutely covered all over. Obviously being older he was poorly with it but was fine after.

16 months is still very young. She has plenty of time to catch it. My DSs had it a couple of weeks apart at age 5 and 2. They were both fine with it. A bit itchy at night but jumping around during the day and barely any fever. It's usually not too bad in children (although you will always hear the bad stories). If she still hasn't had it by the time she's 12/13 then you could consider vaccination - CP can be risky for non-immune pregnant women.