Chickenpox - Is this advice right?

[Birdiegirl]

DD is 23 months and came down with chickenpox on Saturday. At first we weren't sure what it was, as not that many spots and they didn't look like CP spots. So I rang 111 to get a diagnoses and advice.
They were lovely, really helpful and said yes it sounded like CP and told us what to get in the chemist to help - piratin, calomine cream etc. DH spoke to the nurse and when he asked how long we need to keep her indoors and away from people she said 'there's no need for that, just carry on as normal'. We were surprised tbh, I presumed she is highly infectious, am I wrong?

We haven't brought her out over the last 2 days just to be on the safe side. As my concern would be if she infected a pregnant woman or small baby. Or is the nurse right , am I being over cautious?

Thanks.

Pretty sure you have to keep her away from others until the spots have stabbed over.

The advice we give is that a person is contagious until the last spot has dried (approx 5 days) and until then house arrest. You never know if someone is pregnant or immunosuppresses

Definitely not the right advice! Chicken pox is really dangerous for pregnant women and the immuno suppressed.

The NHS website speaks of at least 5 days and waiting until spots have dried over.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Prevention.aspx

It might be worth showing the nurse the NHS website as she will no doubt tell everyone else the same (wrong) information.

Def until last spot has scabbed over although the child is the most contagious before spots appear 10 day incubation period would wouldn't want to run the risk of infecting someone un nessecarily. Socks on hands can help with them not scratching in the night and bicarbonate of soda in a warm bath can help with itching. I know it's a pain to be stuck in doors but it's inky for a few days.

oats in a sock run under a tap...
Oat bath soothes scratching

Not to take Ibuprofen!!

Only Calpol if in pain!

I think it depends where you are going, there is nothing wrong with putting her in the push chair and going for a walk for example as long as you don't go near other people. I also wouldnt let her climb on play equipment as she could leave germs. Keep it in perspective though - the vast majority of pregnant women have had it so the risk although real is small. dd1 had it when I was pregnant with dd2 and no one was worried in the slightest.

but no you can't continue as normal

The nurse was wrong.

House arrest for 5 days/until last spot has scabbed over.

Keep it in perspective though - the vast majority of pregnant women have had it so the risk although real is small

You can get chicken pox more than once.

if it is that airborne do you need to shut the windows in case anyone is walking past? Keep away from people fine but house arrest is totally unnecessary.

and the risk is small.

If house arrest was unnecessary, the health protection agency wouldn't recommend it;

If your child has chickenpox, the Health Protection Agency recommends you inform their school or nursery and keep them at home for five days

If you have chickenpox, stay off work and at home until you're no longer infectious, which is until the last blister has burst and crusted over. This usually takes five or six days after the rash begins

oh fgs its semantics starting at home rather than going to school or work er yes obviously. To put a child in a pushchair and take them for a walk or let them potter around in a field how is anyone going to catch chicken pox?

staying

We have Mums round here who infuriate me. 'Ah well everyone needs to get it asap' as their poxy child climbs on playground equipment at park at school pick up time. We do have vulnerable children at our school and yet I am considered precious if I disagree with their attitude.

My dd 3 1/2 has chicken pox at the moment and has done since wednesday. Not sure when to send her back to nursery, does anyone know? Tia x

Is it when all the spots have crusted over?

For the record I think the nurse was wrong to not exercise any caution and suggest you continue as normal as there are people with very low immune systems such as cancer patients with nutripenia of whom it can actually make ill or even kill, aswell as early pregnant woman.

My advice would be to stay at home, but a walk to a field would be fine and obviously if you need to go somewhere then go but keep away from people x

I have always thought they were meant to stay at home until the spots had scabbed over but that getting some fresh air without others was around. However I can understand that sometimes you have to take them out and to where other people are, it looks like my youngest might have them and I will still have to take him with me when I take his brother to school this week, some trips out can't be avoided