Talk to me about chicken pox

[GibberTheMonkey]

I am supposed to be having a friend to visit tomorrow (hi if you're reading) and I was really looking forward to it as she's an old friend who lives miles away. Her youngest has come out with chicken pox though and she's told me its my call.

My eldest three had it nearly seven years ago and I know that these days they say try not to get it as it's potentially dangerous (no more cp parties). My youngest (4) hasn't had it though. I'm assuming this means I should stop my friend coming but such is life.

I know there is a cp vaccine but this doesn't seem to be given as standard. Should I be asking for this? Why don't they offer it as standard now, do they expect us to be allowing our dcs to have cp?
I don't like dc4 being in a no-mans land as he grows up.

Ds had chicken pox at 2 and he was really poorly with it. He has been left with quite bad facial scarring. I would have definitely got the cp vaccine, but I didn't know that there was one until I started looking into chicken pox when he caught it.

I think you will have to see your gp and pay for it privately, around £70. I have no idea why it is not part of the vaccination schedule - possibly there is a lower risk of serious complications than measles etc, so it is not considered a cost effective measure?

The one good thing if you expose him to it now is that you know when it's likely to come and he won't need any time off school. You can also have something ready to deal with the irritation. As he's four he can understand he shouldn't scratch. I was quite lucky with my daughter though, she was three, had had an average amount of spots and only a few hours that they irritated her. She had the first one come out on the Friday and they dried very quickly, by the Monday they had stopped appearing.

They said it can be worse if you get it when you're older. I was 25 when I got it and my bones hurt all over, I wasn't even comfortable lying down to go to sleep, I cried a few times as I was really depressed with it, couldn't swallow without pain, spots were appearing on private parts (I know this can happen to anyone) but as an adult you worry about it so much more. Not sure whether it really is any worse for adults, but the chances are if he doesn't get it now, he will sometime in the future.

Or don't
That's useful too

I'm so sorry you two. My app was showing no replies.
Thank you for replying. I'll go read them now

My youngest has had one dose of chicken pox vaccine [£55 local Travel clinic] last summer. Should apparently have a second dose of vaccine for better protection.
He has been in contact with chickenpox since 1st jab and did not get it. Problem is not sure if fully protected or not.
Even with one jab would hope would get milder dose of the pox if he did catch it.
[Had vaccine as lots of pox about and about to go on important family trip abroad].

interesting, my GP (northern ireland) told me I couldn't have it for my 8 year old.
i said i'd pay, go private, etc but he couldn't help. I am going to Dublin for it for my son. it will cost me 120 euros and it's a two part dose.

Faded - they do need two vaccines for it to be effective

The nurse told me that America have added it to their vaccine schedule and we usually follow suit 2 years later so it will be on the schedule in the future.

DD had to either have CP or be vaccinated as we are moving abroad and the school insist on it. It was hard work convincing my GP to do the prescription! It cost be around £140 in total for the two doses.

The vaccine contains a live virus and as such it is the same as having CP which means they can still get shingles. For some reason, those who have been vaccinated tend to get shingles worse than those that weren't vaccinated. In some cases, shingles in the elderly can be fatal. So the decision to vax shouldn't be taken lightly! There is no cure for shingles.

CP vax is available on the NHS for those that are at risk such as siblings of children with leukaemia.

My DD has just had it. Over 300 blisters from scalp to soles of feet. She scratched a grand total of 3 spots. First blisters Friday morning, final ones appeared Monday morning, by Thursday she was scabbed over and today only the bigger scabs remain. She had a fever for 48-ish hours and a bit of a sniffle, but calpol, virasoothe (in the fridge), aqueous calamine cream and antihistamines kept it bearable.

I've had the vaccine for my DD. £110 not to have chicken pox. It's a no brainer for me :-)

I've had the vaccine for my DD. £110 not to have chicken pox. It's a no brainer for me :-)