Chicken pox? No clue whatsoever!!

[Coldhands]

I may be about to have my first dealings with a childhood illness. Up until now DS has only had the odd cold, apart from a horrible virus last year but even then he was still playing etc.

Now his friend has got chicken pox and we have seen him twice over the last 5 days so I'm assuming DS is going to get it. And we are on holiday in a week and half, great timing!

Basically, do I carry on as normal for now and wait and see if he gets it or do I need to avoid others? I have cancelled going to my cousins DPs today as she is pregnant. But my nan has had shingles before and I'm not sure if I need to avoid her too. Any advice?

Also what do I do if he does get them? I have found a couple of marks/spots on the back of his neck but I'm not sure if its just scratches or the beginning of chicken pox.

I wouldn't assume he's going to get it, children can be exposed loads of times before getting it, if indeed they ever do. I would avoid anyone vunerable but otherwise carry on as normal.

If he gets it, you could phone your Drs so it goes on his file, no need for an appointment, it tends to start on the tummy IIRR. Have plenty calamine lotion/cream on hand and good luck.

I also wouldn't be certain he'll get it this time.
My DD1 was about 18 months old when her best friend got it. They played together for hours in the week before he came out with spots, and were going through a phase of licking each other, and she still didn't get it.

When my girls did get it (at the end of March) the spots started on their backs which is pretty classic. His torso is where you want to look.

If your son was only exposed in the last 5 days you have probably got another week to two weeks to go before any spots appear, so yes, life goes on as normal. Otherwise you'll go mad from cabin fever!

Dd1 has just broken out on spots (on her back) today, 14 days after dd2 went down with it - I think the incubation period is relatively long, so unfortunately it could coincide with your holiday.

My cousin never got it, despite her brother having it, so it isn't a given. She had to have a preventative injection when she got pregnant.

OK, I will keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't get it then, as I read that it will come out up to 21 days after being 'infected' which will clash nicely with our holiday.

My daughter is 4 and I think she has just come down with chicken pox today. However, since starting nursery at 1, she has been exposed to the virus at least 10 times! We mix with lots of other kids and she's played with kids with active chicken pox in the past, partly as I thought we may as well get it over with. I've totally lost count of how many times the nursery has a sign on the door saying that they've had a case of chicken pox. Of course it is possible to catch it on first exposure, but I wouldn't worry about it if I were you!

Thanks everyone. Does anyone know if I need to stay away from my nan who has had shingles in the past?

no you dont as shingles is a reactivation of the chicken pox she would have had in the past - you cant get shingles from chicken pox (but you can get chicken pox from shingles!)

Ok, thank you.