Can you have chicken pox more than once?

MimiDuncan · 2023-05-03T18:35:42+00:00

Hi All, my daughter had chicken pox almost 3 years ago but she had complications as the chicken pox went into her eye and nearly got blind. so she was put on strong medications to stop the spreading therefore she had around 80-100 spots. my son who was only 3 month at that time also cached it and it was mild on him also around 60-70 spots I guess. today my girl came home that there was a boy in school with lots of spots on his face. I emailed teacher who confirmed that the boy had chicken pox 1 week ago . ( I am assuming he still had cabs ) is it possible for them to have chicken pox again? i am so nervous. thank you.

LaLaLaNotListeningNotListening · 03/05/2023 19:40

Yes you can have CP more than once.

HippyChickMama · 03/05/2023 19:41

It's possible but quite unusual to catch it more than once. Also, if the child with chickenpox has scabbed over it is no longer infectious

Diplo · 03/05/2023 19:41

"It's possible to get chickenpox more than once, but it's unusual"
-nhs website

If the kid has had chickenpox, he wouldn't have been allowed back to school until hisspots were scabbed - and at that point it's no longer contagious.

LittleMG · 03/05/2023 19:42

I took my 11 month old son to the dr recently and they thought he had chicken pox. The main thing I remember from the conversation was that they said if they get it under one year old they can get it again, something to do with something in the mums passed on immune system.

MissingMoominMamma · 03/05/2023 19:45

I had it 4 times, which I believe is really unusual. It got progressively milder each time though.

I also had shingles at 12, and molluscum in my 20s. That virus bloody loves me 🙄.

TheProvincialLady · 03/05/2023 19:46

Yes my son had it twice - ages 3 and 11. The second time was much worse. The GP told me that it tends to be children who had it mildly first time round who get it a second time. My younger son, who was more unwell when he had it, didn’t catch CP from his brother. Nor did DH or I. The risk is pretty low.

Original poster

MimiDuncan · 03/05/2023 19:48

TheProvincialLady · 03/05/2023 19:46

Yes my son had it twice - ages 3 and 11. The second time was much worse. The GP told me that it tends to be children who had it mildly first time round who get it a second time. My younger son, who was more unwell when he had it, didn’t catch CP from his brother. Nor did DH or I. The risk is pretty low.

Thank you.

may I ask you when you are saying mild approximate how many spots ?

OP posts:

Georgie8 · 03/05/2023 19:49

Yes, even if they’ve had it very badly -that’s what the consultant told us when our 3 year old had it very badly with nasty complications, spending two weeks in hospital.

Please may I remind everyone NOT to give your child ibuprofen if they have CP.

TheProvincialLady · 03/05/2023 19:57

Sorry @MimiDuncan I can’t remember how many he had, but it was lots more than his brother and he had them inside his mouth, on his penis etc.

TheVanguardSix · 03/05/2023 20:01

It’s unusual but yes, it happens.
DD had them twice in her early years, before age 5. The first time was so mild. Second time was more what you’d expect from chicken pox but not too dire.
DS2 is 9 and hasn’t had them at all (probably because of lockdown and Covid). I’m a little concerned because I hear it can be brutal the older we are when we get them. 😬

potatohead1 · 03/05/2023 21:22

MissingMoominMamma · 03/05/2023 19:45

I had it 4 times, which I believe is really unusual. It got progressively milder each time though.

I also had shingles at 12, and molluscum in my 20s. That virus bloody loves me 🙄.

Is molluscum related to CP?

potatohead1 · 03/05/2023 21:22

I've just googled. Completely unrelated. You're just unlucky!!

MissingMoominMamma · 03/05/2023 21:25

potatohead1 · 03/05/2023 21:22

I've just googled. Completely unrelated. You're just unlucky!!

I thought they were, but you’re right!!

greenspaces4peace · 03/05/2023 21:29

i've had CP twice in childhood and late teens.
i'm now 65, do get the rare cold sore but no sign of shingles.
also been immunized for rubella multiple times with zero sign of immunity on blood tests.

AdoraBell · 03/05/2023 21:31

One of my siblings had it 7 times.

Mutabiliss · 03/05/2023 21:32

TheVanguardSix · 03/05/2023 20:01

It’s unusual but yes, it happens.
DD had them twice in her early years, before age 5. The first time was so mild. Second time was more what you’d expect from chicken pox but not too dire.
DS2 is 9 and hasn’t had them at all (probably because of lockdown and Covid). I’m a little concerned because I hear it can be brutal the older we are when we get them. 😬

You could get him vaccinated? It's quite pricey because it's private, but it is possible.

I had it at 20 and it was indeed hideous.

CaptainSeven · 03/05/2023 21:34

Yes. I've had it 5 times. All confirmed by the GP.

The first time was the worst. After that it was always mild and I only ever had spots in patches.

Once under an arm pit. Another time on my back. Not shingles, confirmed chicken pox.

TillyTollyTully · 03/05/2023 21:35

There's a recurring theme with people who's dc have had chicken pox more than once - lots say that the first time was mild/not many spots and the second round was worse.

I read an article last year from some viral specialist or other who said that having cp more than once was incredibly rare - and that in many cases where a child has supposedly had it twice, it was much more likely that the child had actually been misdiagnosed with cp the first time so had actually only had it once (the worse 'second' bout).

Ds2 was misdiagnosed with cp by a GP when he was about 2. She very confidently pronounced he had cp and he'd be covered by the next day - turned out to be a random viral rash and he actually had cp a few years later.

Skybluepinky · 03/05/2023 21:40

Yes my neighbour has had it 9 times.

Emmamoo89 · 03/05/2023 22:14

TillyTollyTully · 03/05/2023 21:35

There's a recurring theme with people who's dc have had chicken pox more than once - lots say that the first time was mild/not many spots and the second round was worse.

I read an article last year from some viral specialist or other who said that having cp more than once was incredibly rare - and that in many cases where a child has supposedly had it twice, it was much more likely that the child had actually been misdiagnosed with cp the first time so had actually only had it once (the worse 'second' bout).

Ds2 was misdiagnosed with cp by a GP when he was about 2. She very confidently pronounced he had cp and he'd be covered by the next day - turned out to be a random viral rash and he actually had cp a few years later.

I definitely had it 3 times

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 03/05/2023 22:16

My eldest has had it three times- each time confirmed by the gp. Although the first time she was a baby and only had it mildly.

justasking111 · 03/05/2023 22:23

greenspaces4peace · 03/05/2023 21:29

i've had CP twice in childhood and late teens.
i'm now 65, do get the rare cold sore but no sign of shingles.
also been immunized for rubella multiple times with zero sign of immunity on blood tests.

Snap I had it aged 8 lots of spots. Aged 18 Saturday night club dancing felt a bit hot and itchy. Sunday morning I found the spots. GP said go sunbathe so I did, it was mild and went quickly.

I had rubella as a child. Then jabbed three times as a new mum. It never took.

I do worry about shingles

Randomuser9876 · 03/05/2023 22:42

This is so interesting!

I had it 3 times as a child. From memory symptoms were milder each time so hopefully your girl will be OK OP. Its quite unusual I think.

If you have it more than once are you more likely to get shingles? I often wonder...

greenspaces4peace · 03/05/2023 22:51

my concern is the shingles injection triggering a bout of cp or shingles itself. i've asked multiple times and no one seems to give me a definitive answer (both gp and the immunization specialty nurses) so i hold off.
@justasking111 on the rubella front, the immunization specialty nurse did say, this is not uncommon and in most cases if the person encounters rubella itself they show a strong natural response (despite the blood tests suggesting otherwise).

justasking111 · 04/05/2023 14:13

greenspaces4peace · 03/05/2023 22:51

my concern is the shingles injection triggering a bout of cp or shingles itself. i've asked multiple times and no one seems to give me a definitive answer (both gp and the immunization specialty nurses) so i hold off.
@justasking111 on the rubella front, the immunization specialty nurse did say, this is not uncommon and in most cases if the person encounters rubella itself they show a strong natural response (despite the blood tests suggesting otherwise).

OH had the shingles jab last year no side effects. We've seen two friends who had shingles. One was on morphine for the pain. I wouldn't hesitate