Chicken pox 3 times and pregnant - how does immunity work?

[lucielooo]

Hello,
I've spoken to my docs and looked all over the internet but I still can't quite get an answer so I'm hoping someone might be able to help :)

I am trying to work out whether I have immunity to chickenpox or not because my niece has just come out with chicken pox this week after staying with me for the weekend. I'm only concerned because I'm 33 weeks pregnant so not sure whether I should worry or not.

I've had chicken pox several times so I can't work out if this means I am more or less likely to be immune now? I've spoken to the nurse at my GP's surgery who really didn't believe that I had had it more than once (three times apparently according to my mum) but it's in my notes that I had it in '88 and again in '96. I did ask if I should do a test to see whether I am immune but she said she thought that was a bit dramatic.

So my question is, how does immunity work? If I've had it more than once, am I more likely to have devloped immunity and therefore nothing to worry about, or is it that some people just don't develop immunity to some viruses and therefore I am more likely to get it?

This is what I was trying to understand from the nurse but to be honest after not believing me that I'd had it twice until she'd read it with her own eyes and telling me it was a bit dramatic testing my blood to see if I was immune I wasn't sure quite what else to say.

She did say I could have my blood tested if I really wanted 'to confirm that I had had chicken pox' so I get the impression she thought it would be a waste of time. She may well be right but I think if I understood the above I'd be better able to decide?

What do you think?

Yes, this puzzled me too. Had chickenpox as a child (with the marks to prove it) and then again as an adult. No particular reason, I questioned it with GP and his reply was "Who cares?" Fortunately I laughed that remark off. But it still puzzles me and I wonder whether there is a slightly different strain that comes out every ten years or so? Can chickenpox have a different strain? Good luck with baby BTW

Sometimes it's a case of misdiagnosis. DS was diagnosed with chickenpox but it turned out to be hand, foot and mouth. There are other pox like viruses too, most aren't that common and look very similar in the early stages.

If your worried then ask for the test. You'll only fret if you're not sure.

crosswordaddict that was pretty much the nurses attitude and normally I'd agree totally agree - it's only because of the baby that I'm worried about whether I'm likely to get it again. I read somewhere else that some people just don't develop immunity to certain diseases but it was someone saying it on a forum (rather than from any authoritative source) so could very likely be a load of rubbish!

I think there's no harm in having the test but would rather not waste everyones time/resources if it doesn't matter :)

If it matters to you then it matters. Get the test if it'll help you stop worrying. This conjecture sure as hell wont help.

My DS2 has never developed immunity to chickenpox and has had it 3 times so far.

My doctor has put this down to me being in contact with my sister who haf chickenpox (unknowingly) when I was 38wks pregnant with him.

Insist on a test

Does the test show if you are immune though, or just that you had had chicken pox? You know you have had chicken pox so it ifs the latter that won't help.

FWIW I work with someone who has had CP 3 times. And DD has had it once (severely) and it seems she has it again now.

I'd guess if you catch CP more than once that means you're never immune to it. But thats a total guess, and I hope I'm wrong and that you haven't got it.

Well, the nurse wasn't very clear, she kept saying 'to see if you have had it' which you're right would not be very helpful as we'd already agreed that I had - But I'm guessing the only way they can tell if you've had it is by testing for anti-bodies which would tell you if you had immunity? Basically she didn't/couldn't answer that.

It's amazing how many people anecdotally can say they've had chicken pox several times when apparently it's a medical impossibility!

I think it's probably best to ask for it anyway as I'm still not clear on what the situation is and it must be better to make sure?

Thank you all very much for your replies :)