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Original poster

Did your DC2 catch chickenpox from your DC1 (or vice versa) or did they escape it?

25 replies

sassylassie · 21/05/2015 21:15

My 13-month old just started nursery and picked up chickenpox (fortunately really mildly) as there was an outbreak in his room. His elder brother (3 1/4) hasn't had chickenpox (well we don't think he has?!) and we are now on day 17 and he is showing no signs of getting it. I know the maximum incubation period is 21 days so he still has time, but was just wondering what the chances of him not getting it would be? Did your DC2 get it from DC1 or did they somehow escape it? I'm wondering about vaccinating him if he escapes it this time, but I assume if he does escape it it will be because he somehow has a level of immunity? Interestingly my husband also doesn't think he's ever had it (according to his mum), but he's showing no signs yet either. Interested to hear different experiences!

OP posts:
propelusagain · 21/05/2015 21:34

My 3 year old caught it first, three days after his spots appeared my DD ( 6 months old) started with it too. One day later I started signs ( never had chicken pox before) all three of us were ill pretty much at the same time, OH was working away and I have no family support, Very unpleasant.

Original poster
sassylassie · 21/05/2015 21:36

Ugh sounds awful. I guess you must all have caught it from the same source then, as minimum incubation is 7 days isn't it?

OP posts:
MehsMum · 21/05/2015 21:47

They caught it. Mind you, I wanted it over and done with and did nothing to stop it being passed from one to the other.

Mama1980 · 21/05/2015 21:53

Ds 1 had chicken pox a couple of weeks after my 24 week preemie ds2 finally got discharged from nicu.
I was a absolute wreck Blush but breast fed on demand and thank heavens ds2 didn't catch it, neither did my eldest dd so I'm not sure if the breast feeding helped or if it's just luck.
The Drs were worried but said there was no sure way to prevent ds2 catching it so limiting contact etc would be pointless by the time I realised ds1 had it exposure would have already happened.

Tutu1000 · 21/05/2015 21:57

My ds2 caught chicken pox from play school when he was 4. 2 weeks later ds1 who was 7 came down with it. ds1 was much more poorly than ds2 and I always wondered if that was because he was older as I've heard that the older you are when you get chicken pox the worse it is. Although that is probably an old wife's tale.

ouryve · 21/05/2015 22:02

DS2 broke out on a Sunday - thankfully, fairly mild - the first we knew was when he was scratching his back against the sofa. DS1 started on the Wednesday. It was hell for him. Lots more spots and in much more uncomfortable places. He scratched a lot more and has ended up with a lot of scars.

dementedpixie · 21/05/2015 22:03

dd had it age 3 and ds came out in spots after about 15 days (he was just under 6 months old)

TheOldestCat · 21/05/2015 22:04

DC2 ( aged 4) got chicken pox from DC1 (aged 7) who had shingles. The classic 2-week break as well.

BikeRunSki · 21/05/2015 22:16

Dc2 came out in spots exactly 14 days after dc1. Both were very poorly (fevers for several days, 1000s spots).

Original poster
sassylassie · 21/05/2015 22:16

I really hope DS1 gets it too. It's been driving me crazy. It's been odd too as he's been going to nursery as usual but none of my mum friends outside of nursery have wanted to join us for play dates once I've said it's likely he's incubating it (DS2's spots crusted over after 7 days). We've also not seen my friend's newborn as obviously wouldn't risk it. So wish he'd either hurry up and get it or I could somehow know he is miraculously immune!?

OP posts:
Original poster
sassylassie · 21/05/2015 22:18

Wow BikeRunSki. 1000s of spots must have been horrendous! DS2 only had a dozen or so, although he was pretty poorly for the two days leading up to the spots appearing. Very very lucky I know.

OP posts:
5madthings · 21/05/2015 22:21

My elder three have had it, younger two haven't. My elder three didn't pass it to each other they each had it at separate times. The younger two have been exposed to it lots through school and pre school yet still haven't caught it.

I think generally siblings do pass it on to each other but not always, it's very random.

BikeRunSki · 21/05/2015 23:04

sassy they were both covered from head to toe, really close packed spots. DD was 9 months old and they all joined up into big scabs the size of my hand. It was hideous. She's 3 now and surprisingly unscarred.

306235388 · 21/05/2015 23:38

Dc2 (then 14m) caught it from dc1 (then 4) about 15 days after exposure.

306235388 · 21/05/2015 23:39

Incidentally though my brother, my sister and I all had chickenpox aged 7 and never caught it from each other .

Indantherene · 21/05/2015 23:46

My DC3 caught it at school aged 9 and gave it to the other 3 over Xmas. That was fun. DC1 and DC3 were really ill with it. The other 2 just had it mildly with few spots.

Ktmummy1 · 22/05/2015 13:12

My dd1 (2y8m)had it first very badly, my ds1 (14 weeks at time) caught it and started showing signs 14 days later. He had it moderately.

Original poster
sassylassie · 23/05/2015 07:18

Well day 19 here and still no signs of DC1 getting it. Hoping we are in the clear but he'll probably get it on Monday, as I return to work from mat. leave on Tuesday! :-)

OP posts:
neversleepagain · 23/05/2015 21:30

My twins shared the virus. Twin 2 got it first and 16 days later her sister got it.

Christelle2207 · 23/05/2015 21:38

You can get immunity checked via gp. I did when asking about cp vaccine for myself (nhs will test for immunity but in most cases won't fund the jab).
I turned out to be immune, which basically means I DID have it very mildly as a child, even though neither me or my parents have any recollectionGrin

Etak15 · 23/05/2015 21:43

My oldest dd (7) got it last month presumembly from school dd2 dd3 and ds all came out in spots 14 days later!! Dd1 was mild dd2 n 3 had more and ds (5 months old) was absolutely covered all of them are scabbed over now though so through the worst of it I hope! and I thought his might be the most mild as still exclusively breastfeeding thought I somehow would be passing my imunity on but clearly not! Have just started a thread on here this morning re chicken pox and flying if anyone got any advice?!

Justusemyname · 23/05/2015 21:49

DS had chicken pox at three and then DD caught it at one straight after. I was in for a month. That was fun. DD was very very ill with it.

BarbarianMum · 24/05/2015 17:34

Ds1 caught chicken pox age 3. 21 days later ds2 was still ok so we went away for Easter. On day 24 he started getting spots and was actually quite poorly. Assume he did get it from his brother just before the end of the infectious period (and of course we must have spread it to half of London before we realised).

Mummymoanasaurus · 24/05/2015 17:58

Twin 2 got it followed two weeks later by twin 1 who had it twice as bad. Was much more poorly and lots more spots.

Etak15 - airlines will not let you fly with a child with chickenpox

MiaowTheCat · 25/05/2015 16:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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