Chickenpox - do I continue to isolate DS?

[silasramsbottom]

DS has been off colour since saturday. He was lethargic over the weekend, then sent home from school with a temperature on Monday.

Meanwhile, DD was absolutely fine, but as I was dressing her on Tuesday I noticed chickenpox (doctor has confirmed). I decided I'd keep DS home from school thinking he was obviously not far behind her and we've been house bound all week.

It's now Friday, DDs spots are crusting over and DS feels better, but he has had no spots. What do I do? The incubation period for chickenpox can be 21 days. I can't keep him cooped up for 2 more weeks in case he's harbouring chickenpox can I?

Should I allow him to attend his activities and back to school on Monday or should I continue to isolate him?

If no spots, then you won't get a CP diagnosis (sub clinical infection possible though).

You either keep him off for the full 21 days since the day your DD's final spot crusts. Or you follow NHS advice that quarantining contacts isn't required. But there's no point in a half-way house at some random point between those two approaches.

Send him back to school, for starters the school won't be impressed if you keep him off for 21days!

Thanks, think I'll send him back to school on Monday (unless he develops spots of course).

We're in Scotland - the school term ends on Wednesday so no danger of missing 21 days. He's missed 4.5 but has actually been ill - just no spots.