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Children's health

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Original poster

Chicken pox - is this at all possible?

24 replies

milkysallgone · 27/03/2009 09:00

Dd had c.p when she was 2 and I was still breastfeeding 6month old ds at the time. He has been at nursery for a few months and we know he has been exposed to the virus (unkowingly) when some friends came to visit the other week.

A thought occurred to me this morning. I know that ds would have had some passive immunity from me in utero and also at the time I was b/feeding him; but is it possible that if you are exposed to the virus whilst receiving passive immunity, you could actually develop active immunity to it?

Does that make any sense at all or am I talking utter nonsense?

OP posts:

Berrie · 27/03/2009 09:05

My ds had it when he was 2 and dd who I was breast feeding did not catch it. She went on to get it when she was 3...and ds got it again!

Original poster

milkysallgone · 27/03/2009 09:10

Stupid theory then? I'll stick to my day job

OP posts:

rempy · 27/03/2009 09:12

Sorry, nonsense!

Passive immunity doesnt convert. And the infectivity of chicken pox is so high that if he spent 20 minutes in the same room as the host, he has a 95% chance of getting it!

Incubation is rather long - 14 to 21 days...

Musukebba · 27/03/2009 10:37

I beg to differ... ;)

We know from professional experience that protecting pregnant women or neonates with passive prophylaxis (i.e. giving them varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG)) after they've been exposed, doesn't actually stop them being infected. What it does do is reduce the severity of the ensuing chickenpox. This ranges from not developing any symptoms or signs at all, to maybe getting a few lesions here and there.

So if the question is: would exposure of an infant to chickenpox - whilst under protective cover of maternal antibody - still result in an active immune response to the virus, I would say it's very likely. Whether that active response is enough to guarantee complete protection in the event of a subsequent heavy exposure; well that's another question.

tiggerlovestobounce · 27/03/2009 10:41

Breastfeeding doesnt help prevent the baby getting chicken pox - The antibodies in breastmilk are of the wrong type for that.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 10:50

Sorry to hijack could I also ask what the chances are of my dcs catching it dd 2 ds 7 months also bf.They were playing with 2 children last Tuesday who came out with the spots early this week.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 10:52

Only I was wondering how long incubation period was. Ds due to get baptised on the 5th,then we go on holiday on the 6th.
We have already cancelled the christening once due to sickness bug wiping out me dh and 21 of my family.
Just have a feeling its going to get cancelled again.

madwomanintheattic · 27/03/2009 10:53

14 -21 days between exposure and rash...

madwomanintheattic · 27/03/2009 10:55

and small lol.

dd1 and ds1 were vaccinated against the pox and still got it, albeit much milder than unvacc dd2. the joy.

tiggerlovestobounce · 27/03/2009 10:55

There is no guarentee that they will catch it, even if they have been exposed. My DD3 didnt catch chicken pox when my DD2 had it, and they were together all the time. DD3 has also been exposed numerous times in nursery.

For the first few months a baby has some protection from maternal antibodies (as long as the mum has had chicken pox).

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 11:01

Thanks. Suppose will just wait and see then.
Yes the joy.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 11:06

In fact dd currently getting over Tonsillitis, ds has constantly got cold and cough. So something else to add would be just great.

madwomanintheattic · 27/03/2009 11:17

ah. ds1 had double pneumonia and we were neb'ing him 5 times a day (he was 11 weeks) when dd1 came out in a suspiciously chicken poxy rash. gp confirmed it as the pox and i thought my world was ending - an 11 week old with doublepneumonia and chicken pox was looming on the horizon. but dd1's spots vanished the next day lol so as soon as ds1 recovered we all trooped off for chicken pox vacc. did not intend to go through that again lol.
tonsillitis hideous. loads of viral nonsense circulating here - i love spring

smartiejake · 27/03/2009 11:27

I was breast feeing DD2 (7 months at the time) when DD1 got chicken pox.

We thought she would escape.

Exactly 3 weeks later DD2 came out in spots...

Gorionine · 27/03/2009 11:33

Berrie, I thought once you had CP that was itand you couldn't get it again?

alicecrail · 27/03/2009 11:37

Are you contagious until the spots come out? or until spots have gone again?

smartiejake · 27/03/2009 11:41

I believe you are most contagious for 48 hours before the spots come out and then up until all the spots have crusted over.

alicecrail · 27/03/2009 11:52

My dd was in contact with someone 10days ago who has now come out in spots and was worried as we are off to a big family wedding tomorrow and she is not quite herself. Although i have noticed this morning that she has another molar coming through, so fingers crossed

Original poster

milkysallgone · 27/03/2009 11:58

Musukebba - thanks for the support!

It's c.p time of year again isn't it? In many ways it would be a lot better if my ds just got it over with now.

OP posts:

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 11:59

madwoman that sounds awful, must have been very frightening and stressful.
I wasnt aware my dd had Tonsillitis I just rang NHS Direct for advice due to high temp, they sent a paramedic, who then sent for Ambulance as they were concerned about her being light sensitive and lethargic.
When we arrived at the hospital she was like a different child
Much better now after antibiotics.

alicerail oh no fingers crosssed for you.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 27/03/2009 12:00

milksgalore I am thinking the same,if its going to come, get it over with now.

nowtygaffer · 27/03/2009 12:11

I'm fairly certain you can't get it again. My DS had aged 3 and then a year later we thought he had caught it again. In fact a friend who is a GP said it looked like chicken pox.

However, I was told by a Consultant microbiologist that it would be a million to one chance that it would be CP again.

Berrie · 27/03/2009 13:48

My ds has had it twice.
I looked into it at the time and according to the internet (not always reliable I know) some children can get it up to 5 times.

alicecrail · 27/03/2009 13:51

I've had it twice, my friend's son had it twice and another friends student had it twice - it does happen

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