Chickenpox

[Turtlesmile]

We found out that a baby my DD was playing with last Saturday at a party came down with chickenpox yesterday. I believe incubation is 10-14 days? What's the etiquette during this period? Obviously we're staying away from those at risk, but is it ok to take her out and about walking and in the pushchair to shops, other places where she won't be in direct contact with other children? Thanks.

Check the NHS Choices website for all the facts.

There is no real etiquette. On MN everyone says it's okay to take them out until you actually see spots on them at which point you're supposed to impose full lock down quarantine until the scabs dry up. IRL I know people who take them out with active spots but just warn anyone who gets near (so far, ime, the folk who get near are never bothered). I also know people IRL who would quarantine completely for at least a week (sort of MN-way).

If it were me I wold carry on as normal but get extra supplies of food etc. in the house, & make some contingency plans in case she came out with spots; typically 14 days after exposure, ime. IF it happens at all, and most often it doesn't unless they are living with the child who had active CP.

DS went to Toddler group on a Friday, out with spots on Sunday; nobody else at Toddlers got CP.

i carry on as normal when they have been exposed but will warn people they may be contagious. ds4 has been exposed to chickenpox loads this year, it went round pre-school for about 2-3mths! he didnt get it, obviously i couldnt keep him at home the whole time incase he got it! but i did tell anyone i knew who was preganant or who had a child under 1 etc that there was chickenpox at the pre-school and so he therefore could be carrying it :)

i thought the incubation period could be up to 21days? not sure tho, again check nhs website :)

After contributing to another CP thread on MN, I think it's best to avoid other's opinions on this and just phone your HV or GP and get advice that way or go via NHS website.

the other child would have been contagious for only 1-2 days before the spots appeared i.e. would have been contagious on wednesday and maybe tuesday so would not have been contagious when your dd was with them last saturday. You do not have to do anything different as your dd was not exposed to the active chicken pox virus.

p.s. the incubation period is 10-21 days with them only being contagious for 1-2 days before spots appear until they scab over which is about 5-7 days after the spots first appear

You can't live your life with 'what ifs'
Go out. If the spots cone out them don't go out.
They might get cp might not. And so might the million people you come into contact with from you or someone else