What are chances of sibling catching chicken pox?

[sheeplikessleep]

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

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

[Gill5555]

Hi, DS got chicken pox 2 weeks and 1 day after DD. He is 9 months old and has it really badly, in the eyes and ears, all over the head and face, back and front and in all his little creases. Took him to OOH Dr who said to keep an eye on his breathing as the danger is if it gets into his lungs. He has quite a mucussy cough, which Dr said was probably the blisters bursting and DS bringing them up. I was hoping he wouldn't get it as bad as DD as I am still breastfeeding but the opposite is true - he has it 10 times worse. Am looking forward to this time next week when it's not so hot and DS can get comfortable again. Found oats in tights run into coolish bath really helped.

[lovechoc]

DH had chicken pox as a child and then got shingles as an adult, so he's not been very lucky!! It's unusual for adults to contract it, but can happen. I suppose the chances of catching the shingles again in a lifetime is very low though, so that's at least something.

Hope all the mums with pooky babies are recovering. I had some hellish nights with my two.

[sheeplikessleep]

We are now on day 6 and most of DS2s spots have scabbed over, phew!

However, the spots around his groin area and in his nappy haven't scabbed. I guess it's to be expected, as it doesn't get the air to it, as he is in nappies.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Guess I'm going to have another day off work tomorrow, as they haven't scabbed there? How likely is it until his nappy area spots have scabbed?

Thanks

[PestoPenguin]

If DH has not had it at that age I'd seriously consider getting a private vaccination (local travel clinic or other private place that offers jabs, not your GP). It is a genuinely horrible disease in adults .

[AnnieLobeseder]

Poor DS2! We had that as well, DD1 had it, very mild, just a few spots and hardly noticed she had it. But DD2 got it 2 weeks later and was just a spotty bundle of misery, and was absolutely covered in them. On her 2nd birthday too, poor thing. So unfair on the poor second child who catches it.

[lovechoc]

DS1 was only 6 weeks old when DH caught the shingles. Horrible experience as an adult. :( Apparently it was stress induced because of his adapting to becoming a father.

[Tgger]

Yes, blokes getting as adults is worst I think (apart from pregnant women). My DS's friend's Dad had it, was off work for ages- got pneumonia or something as a complication from it (!?).

Hope the itchy ones aren't too bad. I had the same with my DCs, DS had it oh so mild, then DD got it FULL ON- loads and loads of spots everywhere and so itchy. Got her dosed up on painkillers, piriton (or boots equivalent) and calomine and that pretty much sussed it. The spots took ages to clear up for her, but luckily no really bad marks.

[BustersOfDoom]

Slightly different here but DP caught CP off DS. He came down with it about a week after DS's spots first appeared. DP was really ill and was absolutely covered in spots, he was off work for 2 weeks. However I think he had it worse as he was an adult rather than being the second to get it.

Hope everybody is feeling better and that all the grown ups have had it already!

[chaosisawayoflife]

Yes, hopefully he'll turn the corner tomorrow and then be on the mend.

[sheeplikessleep]

Chaos - bad timing with your DD1s party tomorrow!
I'm just hoping today was the worst day, as tomorrow is day 4.

[chaosisawayoflife]

Oh no, poor thing, and poor you. My dd2 only has a handful of spots so far, but I'm already dreading what she'll be like in the morning.

[sheeplikessleep]

We are now on day 3 of DS2 having it. He's so miserable, running a temperature, itching like crazy and covered in spots (loads around his nappy area, poor thing).

Now I realise how mild DS1s pox was!

He's been dosed up on Nurofen for his temperature, Piriton and smothered in calamine and glycerine cream. Hoping for a better night tonight, as last night was atrocious. I'm thinking of going to bed myself soon.

[chaosisawayoflife]

We made it to day 16, but spots are now appearing on dd2, just in time for dd1's birthday party tomorrow.!

[Astr0naut]

The good news is that we're on day 5 and the spots are already fading and going. Dd got it much worse than ds (and she's only 6 months!) and we've had, sorry I've had a hellish week at night times, but today we've turned the corner.

Luckily I'm on mat leave, so I've not had to have time off.

Now waiting to see if Dh has caught it. He's managed 42 years, but we'll see...

[lovechoc]

DS1 had chicken pox and exactly two weeks later DS2 caught it aswell. It's difficult for them not to catch it when they are in close proximity to each other all the time.

[sheeplikessleep]

DS2 got first spots yesterday (14 days later than DS1 first spots) and many more today. Much worse than DS1. He is OK in himself, a bit under the weather, but no temperature or anything, just a bit mor irritable. Thanks all for posting!

[chaosisawayoflife]

I'm on pox watch here too. Dd1 got her first spots 15 days ago. Dd2 not showing any signs yet but I'm obsessively checking!

[BackforGood]

Yes, they like to get it consecutively rather than concurrently, as, of course if they had it at the same time you'd only be needing to find someone to look after them while you are at work, for a couple of weeks rather than the month they can stretch it out to if they wait until one is better before the 2nd one gets it

[1gglePiggle]

What happened then Sheep?

[Tgger]

So, did she get it? I remember I was in denial and so have lots of friends been, thinking the sibiling won't get it, only on day 14-17 for the spots to appear!

[sheeplikessleep]

We are on day 13 now and no spots to report so far. But DS2 has been much clingier, tired and more cuddly than normal. He even fell asleep whilst cuddling me yesterday, which is very unlike him. He's quite short tempered at the moment. I wonder if we're in the build up.

Astr0 - sorry to hear that, what a pain.

[ragged]

lol, sorry to hear that Astr0. DD was excl brf & got it at 3.5m old.

[Astr0naut]

I have my answer. Dd has chicken pox.

[Astr0naut]

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!

[sheeplikessleep]

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.