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Original poster

What are chances of sibling catching chicken pox?

48 replies

sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 18:36

DS1 (4) has had it since Tuesday night. The spots have finally, today, all crusted over, so tomorrow we can get out of the house (yay!).

Does anyone know what the chances are of DS2 getting it (2). I've tried encouraging kisses etc, as I'd like DS2 to get it before DS1 starts school in September and I've not got much on work wise at moment. So purely for selfish reasons Blush

It's about 2 weeks isn't it? So 2 weeks from rash appearing?

Does anyone know how likely it is that DS2 will catch it?

Also, someone mentioned to me that second sibling tends to get it worse. is that an old wife's tale? Anyone agree or disagree?

Thanks

OP posts:
thestringcheesemassacre · 06/05/2012 18:38

Ours were exactly 2 weeks apart.
And yes, dd2 (the second spotter) got it much worse. But I've never heard that before.

Sparklingbrook · 06/05/2012 18:42

Exactly two weeks apart here. DS1 was 2 and Ds2 was 4 months. They were both covered. i am so relieved they have both had it. I had it at 16 and it was vile.

Seona1973 · 06/05/2012 19:30

it was about 15 days between dd and ds getting it. DD was 3 and ds was 5½ months. She was first to get it and had it worse than ds.

missmapp · 06/05/2012 19:32

Ive h heard that the sibling often has a worse outbreak as they are exposed to the virus longer than the first child, having said that, i know plenty of siblings where that wasnt the case

quickhide · 06/05/2012 19:36

Exactly 2 weeks apart here too- DD1 age 3 got it first, she was pretty bad, then 18mo DD2 got it and was absolutely covered, v high temp and threw up. Glad it's all over with now!

The GP told me it was pretty inevitable...

quickhide · 06/05/2012 19:36

Exactly 2 weeks apart here too- DD1 age 3 got it first, she was pretty bad, then 18mo DD2 got it and was absolutely covered, v high temp and threw up. Glad it's all over with now!

The GP told me it was pretty inevitable...

ragged · 06/05/2012 19:37

2 weeks apart exactly ime, too. Nice you can plan for the quarantine period, at least.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 19:49

thanks all for posting. well we've got another week to go, then i'll see if ds2 catches it! he's got a really runny nose today, but i'm sure i'm just looking into things differently because of the pox expectation.

OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 19:51

is it bad if i go out this week with them?

i've spent 5 days in the house and i'm going mad!! they are also going pretty loopy, as ds1 has had spots, but been fine in himself.

but ds2 could be contagious for the next week. i'm not sure if we should stay in for another week, or act as normal until he starts getting spots?

OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 19:52

also, was it exactly 2 weeks from rash starting on first child, to rash starting on second child? i assume it is from start of rash?

OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 19:52

or rather spots

OP posts:
Catsmamma · 06/05/2012 19:58

I've three and it went through them all, dd first, then ds2, he was only about 8months old too! And finally ds1....he held out for over three weeks incubation, and we had begun to think he'd not get it.

he had his birthday party when we were technically pox free, (all parents were warned we had had the pox on the premises!!) ds2 was healing and ds1 should have got it already, but he held out for another week.

Of them all dd definitely had it the worst and she was first, ds2 was very mild, I presume he still had immunity from me, and ds1 got over it very quickly too.

DorisIsWaiting · 06/05/2012 19:59

With my dds dd3 was really unweel when she was incubating it (after dd2 had it) 4 days of 39+ temps, so we kept her home as dr google said that was normal before spots appearing. If she hadn't been ill there's little you can do as the sibling may not even get the virus this time (unlikely but always a possibility).

HaplessHousewife · 06/05/2012 19:59

According to the NHS website chicken pox is most contagious 1-2 days before the spots appear so you should be fine for a few days.

I checked and double-checked earlier in the year as we saw someone three days before she came out in spots and it was only 6 days before DDs birthday party, luckily we escaped it that time.

TheMightyMojito · 06/05/2012 20:01

DS got it 10 days after DD. Pretty much as soon as she'd crusted over... like a spotty tag-team.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 06/05/2012 20:10

I sort of wonder whether it was pox for DS1.
He hasn't had any fever or been unwell in any way.
First few spots Tuesday night.
Wednesday and Thursday - a lot more spots, quite pink, individual. But only 1 or 2 that were filled with fluid. Over face, torso, underarms and legs.
Yesterday and today - mostly crusty now and dark pink, small scabs.
He's been totally fine in himself.
But I did get him checked by Dr on Thursday, as he also had bright red arms / cheeks. Dr said he'd be unlucky to have both slapped cheeks and pox at the same time, but it's possible. She was fairly convinced the spots were pox.

I sort of feel like a fraud as DS1 hasn't been unwell.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 06/05/2012 20:11

Dd1 came put with it on a Monday and dd2 started 13 days later. You're fine to go out and about for a bit. After all your ds2 may have immunity still from you and may not catch it. It's likely that he will but nothing is certain.

marriednotdead · 06/05/2012 20:16

There were 5 DCs at home when it went through our family, starting with my youngest stepbrother who was about 5. His spots appeared around the May half term. It went through us in age order with grim regularity, finishing with me, aged 15, at the beginning of the summer holidays. I had it worst, (was ill for several days before spots appeared) and still have scarring on my tongue which is visible first thing in the morning.

In the nicest way, I hope your LO gets it over with this time round.

ragged · 07/05/2012 08:13

2 weeks from spots seen in one child to spots seen in someone else, ime, 12-15 days to be more exact, but 2 weeks is close enough.

DS1 had it at 2yo & was completely well with it. Bouncing off the walls well. It was January & we went for long walks in deserted countryside; I could not have coped with him otherwise. This was back when nursery insisted on 2 week exclusion after spots came out. Then baby DD got CP & she woke up at night -- that was the worst of it for her. I had a very mild case of it as an adult, too.

Other DC got it much worse, miserable with fever. Just varies a lot. No fraud required :).

ruelachesty · 07/05/2012 08:28

DD2 first spot appeared 3 weeks ago, a fair few spots but absolutely fine.

DD1 first spot 1 week ago. She was really poorly for first 3 days, but she was/is covered, worst I've seen, all in her bum, ears, mouth! BUT after a rough 3 days she is now fine, but we had her up at out of hours and they said they were inundated with second siblings with chicken pox.

Hope they both get mild case for you and then that's it done with :)

EdithWeston · 07/05/2012 08:37

The maximum incubation period is 21 days, not 14.

shushpenfold · 07/05/2012 08:39

I would bet that almost exactly 14 days later your ds2 will come out in more spots than ds1 - it has happened to me, dsis and most of my friends like this....fun times!

EdithWeston · 07/05/2012 08:40

Oh, qnd that's 3 weeks from when the 1st child's last spot crusted over, so that's up to 27th May.

Quite likely it will be before that, but some children do go to the maximum, and of course some don't get it even when you know they've been repeatedly exposed

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 07/05/2012 16:40

Ragged - your DS1 sounds like my DS1, he has been bouncing off the walls and not acting ill at all and not itching.

Well I've got to a week on Tuesday to see if DS2 has caught it then.

Thanks all for posting.

OP posts:
Astr0naut · 08/05/2012 19:49

I'm in similar position, ds got spots last SAturday and had them all over trunk, back, few on arms legs, head and face by Monday. All crusted over now and he's hardly even noticed he's had them.

Now then, Dd is 6 months old and until this week, still EBF. Are the chances of her catching them high, or is she protected by my immunity still? please don't tell me we've got to stay in quarantine for another 3 weeks - I'm going mad!