Chickenpox during the holidays :(

[LuckyMoonstone]

DS 4yrs has chicken pox, obviously this was going to happen eventually but what crap timing! I’ve had to cancel loads of nice Easter activities we were supposed to do, I feel terrible for him. Physically he seems fine, just a bit tired, but it’s such a shame to have to keep him cooped up. At least if it was during term time he wouldn’t be missing out on much. I’ve had to explain to him why we can’t do any of the nice things we had planned for this weekend and next week- Easter egg hunts, swimming, play dates with friends. I feel awful.
If it was just him it wouldn’t be so bad but I also have a 1.5 year old who is now stuck at home with us!
He should be out of the contagious period around Thursday I think, but I’m not sure. And I doubt anyone with little kids will want to risk meeting up with us.
Im thinking I might be ok to take him to the park, if it’s not too busy and he won’t be really close to other children? Or is that too risky for others?
Just wanted to vent really, I’m so annoyed that our lovely plans have had to go down the drain :(

With the little one not yet showing signs you’ll need to be less social for quite some time (up to three weeks to see if the little one gets it).

@dementedpixie if DD was in the incubation period (lets assume she’s definitely going to catch it), would the vaccine still work? Like, if she had it next week?

Sympathies, my DC1 caught it at the start of the summer holidays, then DC2 came down with it on their birthday 2 weeks later.

It could be a long few weeks if their infectious periods don't overlap.

Fortunately as it was summer for us, we spent a lot of time in the garden and having walks and picnics far away from other people.

Research says yes to vaccinate little one asap as it may lessen the severity.

@cornflourblue i didn’t realise the incubation period was so long, I was expecting to see spots on DD quite soon if she had caught it. Will have to keep an eye on her for a good couple of weeks. Good that you still had garden time for them, sadly that is one thing we are missing for them. I suppose if it was cold & wet I wouldn’t feel so bad about keeping them indoors for so long!

@GildedRage will definitely look into that then, see what I can find locally

You used to be able to get a calamine lotion with a local anaesthetic in it, to help soothe and numb the itch from the pox blisters. The main thing, it to try to prevent scratching which could leave scars. You pharamcist can advise what the latest thing to help is.

The vaccine has been part of the schedule in nearly every other, modern country for years. The UK is very behind, but it will be part of the schedule soon. It has been available here free, if the child has close contact with immunosuppressed individuals though. I too am surprised people haven't heard of its availability, given that there is a weekly thread on MN where its mentioned and signs in many phamacies!

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/

Just out of curiosity how are the grandparents immune?

@LuckyMoonstone the superdrug website (you can get vaccines at some branches) says:

Vaccination within 3 days of exposure may help prevent chickenpox or reduce the severity of disease, resulting in fewer skin lesions and a shorter period of illness. However, there is limited information that being vaccinated up to 5 days after exposure may reduce disease severity.

Elderly people are at major risk and can become very very unwell when they come into contact with chickenpox

They will have had chickenpox in the past. Usually gives lifelong immunity.

Most older adults are immune because of having had it in their childhood PLUS ongoing micro exposure in the general population.

Only if they haven't had it in the past

Yes they’ve both had it in the past, in childhood, and have been around me and my other siblings having CP in childhood, assume immunity is lifelong?

@dementedpixie thanks I’ve had a quick look and Boots is the closest one to us that offers it

From what I read, depending on how soon she has the vaccine, it’s unlikely to stop her from breaking out but it should help keep it mild.

I wouldn't bother to vaccinate his sister personally, waste of money now she's very likely to get it.

It is horrible being cooped up but it would be incredibly selfish to go out, it's very very dangerous for many people.

I really feel for you OP, that totally sucks. My 2 dc got it in succession the Christmas before last meaning we couldn’t socialise or got out for the whole of the school Xmas hols! I remember feeling so sad about cancelled plans. So I know how you feel although at least the weather wasn’t good at Christmas time. There was no need for the first person who replied to use that tone. You’re allowed to wonder about whether it’s ok to go to the park and people are allowed to, kindly but firmly, say no if that’s their opinion. No need to be nasty or offer zero sympathies for a shit situation! People will probably think I’m awful for this but I did take my DC to the park when they had it - when it was almost dark and no one was there just to get some space and fresh air! Also, I knew about the vaccine but had still not done it. I’d read you need 2 doses for it to be totally effective so for two kids that’s approximately £260. Might be small change for some but it wasn’t for us at the time having recently been on mat leave with my second. I certainly don’t think people should make you feel neglectful for not having done it! I would advise allowing yourself to feel the upset about it but also trying to embrace where you’ve found yourself - e.g. if there’s things you do enjoy indoors do more of those things and don’t feel bad about potential extra screen time etc. Have pj parties, dance parties, movie sessions etc. Anything that makes it a bit more bearable! And I definitely agree re trying to get the little one out before they come down with it (the incubation period is long and sadly they probably will 😟). Hang in there OP.

Also a product called PoxClin CoolMousse was the one thing that helped my DC with the itching.

Don’t feel bad for not vaccinating, at least he’s got it and it’s not a serious one for him, if he’s okay with it, bonus!
I took my daughter out on walks, made sure we went places where there was nobody! Our tiny playpark in the village has nobody there during school hours so we went there a couple of times and we are by a beach which again, is usually deserted. You can leave the house so long as you are physically away from people!
I also had to take my daughter shopping ( needed food, only me to go, no one available to do it for me or to have daughter, no online shops available as they are snapped up in my area too quickly) so I went at a quieter time of day and kept my distance. People don’t seem to realise that sometimes you cannot physically stay indoors for a chunk of time (covid exception) and if you don’t have a village to help you, needs must!

Ps: virasoothe was a godsend for the itching, pharmacist recommended it!

Yes and there is some evidence that being exposed again reduces their chances of having shingles.

OP it isn’t the end of the world so please stop catastrophising. We were on holiday abroad when it happened to one of our kids and had the extra awesome of being on an island and needing a doctors note to fly home.

We made the best of it. We did what we could. We didn’t let our disappointment show to our kid and didn’t let them feel their holiday was less than it could have been.

All kids get it and believe me it was WAY worse when my other one was in nursery and we just had to magically be able to take a week off from work (before home working).

I honestly think you are building this up in your mind. It happens - make the best of it and yes your kid can go out for a walk and a scoot etc but not to the park.

@MysteryBandit85 aww thank you, oh no at Christmas that’s even worse!
I was honestly just thinking aloud, expecting someone to either say yeah I did that with mine, you could try a walk to the park but don’t go anywhere near other people, turn straight back around if it’s busy (which we would have done), or hmmm no it’s not worth the risk, even one cough in a big open space could reach someone. Not for someone to insinuate that I’m selfish and ok with making it other peoples problem!
DS is feeling quite tired so happily watching cartoons. It’s his little sister that will need the most entertainment, especially when I’m trying to keep them separate (although let’s face it it’s probably too late for that). Will try to make the indoor stuff as fun as possible.

@Calmdownpeople I know I think I’m just disappointed that we’ve had to cancel so much. It was 4 whole days of having DH with us, an extra pair of hands so we could go out and do things I’d normally struggle with alone (two boisterous kids plus I’m pregnant and tired!) and now we’re just sitting around like meh. And then the rest of the week we were supposed to be seeing family and kids friends but not anymore. It could be a lot worse though. I just feel
sorry for DS is all.