chickenpox incubation and infectiousness

[Bellie]

Hi, I know there are loads of threads on cpox, but none of them seem to help me with my question!
Dd's friend had chickenpox and dd played with her whilst she was contageous. Therefore I have kept dd in for 3 weeks (going up the wall!!).
Today I have been invited to play with some other friends (or rather dd has!) and one of the little boys has had chickenpox. The spots on him came out last Thursday but he still has some that have not scabbed over.
The websites seem to be undecided - some say 5 days regardless others say all the spots need to be scabbed over.
I am really unsure as I don't want to spend another 3 weeks in the house if this little boy is still contageous.
Any advice/experience??

TIA

http:/NHS link here
wonder if the above link works? but I asked a similar question last week and someone did this link for me, think it was the nhs direct website,

sorry it doesnt will try again in a minute

It's 5 days once the spots have appeared - can't really argue with NHS Direct can you. No there is no need for spots to scab over. This is old advice which has been discredited by more recent research evidence.

Btw I wouldn't really advocate keeping your child in quarantine just because they were potentially exposed to another child with c-pox...for all you know, your dd is constantly and unwittingly being exposed to c-pox without you even being aware of it...particularly since mode of tranmission isn't just contact with the spots but also coughing / sneezing (most kids have sort of mini cold before the spots come out). Aerosol droplets from a sneeze can hang around for several minutes - so you could walk into a recently vacated elevator and catch c-pox!

have a look at this \link{http://nhsdirect.nhs.uk/he.asp?

Thank - hmc I do know what you mean and I have been out of the house with her - just not to any of the groups we usually go to as there have been pregnant mums there and I would feel dead guilty. However I have been questioning if everyone would be as careful and think that if I am in the same situation again wouldn't iyswim.
First time mum having the dilema for the first time - so probaly over cautious!!

aargh! sorry really can't do links. agree with handlemecarefully, wouldn't keep a child away from others just becasuse they have come into contact with cp's, they may never get it. However my sister wants her children to get cp's so my 2nd dt is cuddling them lots this week as we are presuming that he is going to come out with it soon as his brother had his first spots 2 weeks ago.

Well Bellie, I think it was very honourable of you and very selfless (so I am quite admiring of you!).....but I bet poor old you and dd got real cabin fever!

tmp - thanks for trying have looked and agree that the 5 days seems to be the NHS advice - thanks!!
Will go on my playdate this afternoon then without worrying that it will happen all overagain!

hmc - we certainly have - i think poor dh needs a medal as soon as he comes in from work I don't stop talking and want to know every detail of his day ...... what did you do, who did you speak to what did you have to eat.....