Chicken pox

[Trackandtrace]

We have been shielding since March due to a vunerable child. Other child has come out in chicken pox. They arent back at school, we only see grandparents who also arent mixing. Shopping is delivered.
Children had flu vac at doctors a few weeks back.
Cant fathom how child has picked up chicken pox? Any ideas

How weird! Is the doctors the only time DC has actually been out?

6 months just in your house is a long time for DCs... are you/they okay?

Grandparents have been somewhere? Supermarket? GP? Hospital? Someone has been near someone with chicken pox.

I don't think it's the flu vaccination as you say that was some weeks back - not sure what the incubation is for chicken pox but not several weeks? Someone who delivered the shopping to you has a child with chicken pox maybe? It is easy to pick up, see here: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/

Incubation period for chicken pox I think is up to 3 weeks. What contact have you had with people in that time?

We live rurally so yes we go out for walks, have a large garden, as do grandparents. In September we had a few days out socially distanced etc. So yes all ok.
Discussed with Doctors and they are in full agreement that school is too much of a risk currently.

Yes its possible that it has come on a delivery. I think im just surprised as neither child had picked it up previously despite being in situations where we expected them too and generally they get every bug going, but now when not mixing and after being illness free for so long it was a shock.

In last 3 weeks. One visit to GP for flu vac, 3 shopping deliveries. Seen grandparents several times. And we did have an essential workman at house. But we went to grandparents for day and then i deep cleaned house before childrne returned.
Grandparents have been to chemist and supermarket with masks.
Speaking to neighbours at a distance over fence.

How odd. I think the GP visit seems most likely

I think they would have picked it up at doctors surgery. How annoying though.

Not too worried about chicken pox, but makes you wonder about infection control in general

Is it def chicken pox? Some other rashes can look the same, might have picked something up in the countryside?

GP:s surgery seems by far the most likely.

How are the grandparents?
Have they got shingles?

You can catch chickenpox from shingles as it's the same virus.
Shingles appears in older patients who had chickenpox previously and their immune system is a bit down.

Chicken pox is extremely contagious. Perhaps a child had been to the GPs to get a rash looked at and it turned out to be chicken pox before your children arrived for their flu jab

Three shopping deliveries, most probably a different driver each time, visit to GP and a workman coming to the house. Unfortunately you will never know

Has a grandparent had shingles? My child missed out on chicken pox every time it did the rounds at pre school and school, then when they were 7 a grandparent got shingles and my child got chicken pox within a week.

Shingles in your family/grandparent.

I am very alarmed that you have shielding for that long with such limited contact. That may do more harm than COVID would...

chickenpox is truly airborne, it's hugely more contagious than covid

That may do more harm than COVID would...

Obviously not, otherwise I’m sure they wouldn’t be shielding!

Covid could substitute for flu on this chart.

Back in lockdown there was another thread like this where a family who barely left the house had a child get covid, it does seem such bad luck! Weird also that this has happened to 2 families.
I hope your vunerable child is ok Op.

Chicken pox is very very contagious, far more so than covid.

Thank you all for comments. Child with chicken pox is recovering well. Vunerable child also doing ok and no sign of chicken pox yet.
To the comments about restrictions doing more harm than covid would.... we will continue to take advise from the medical experts who know childs medical history, who have advised that we continue to shield.
We are fortunate that where we live the children have plenty of space and opportunities. Not being able to see other children in person is a shame but it wont be forever and in the meantime they are gaining time to play, explore their interests etc.