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URGENT QUICK ADVICE RE:CHICKEN POX!!!

12 replies

Crunchie · 22/01/2004 17:34

My dd has chicken pox, she is still contagious. However we have a dilema, dh brother from Australia is here and MIL wants us to go over tonight to see him at their house, fine all the adults have had it. But DH newphew is there, he is nearly 2 and his parents don't want him to catch it, I do understnad as he is having other health probs atthe mo and this could be the final straw. Anyway what are the chances if we go over of the other boy catching it? If he is put to bed before we arrive, and if our girls never go into the room he is in? Is it an airborne virus that will hang around? or a conatct one where he will actually have to touch them?? ANYONE??? I have to know before 6pm!!!

OP posts:
mummysurfer · 22/01/2004 17:38

It's one-one contact. The stuff inside the spots is the contagious stuff. That's why they're no longer infectious once the spots have scabbed oner.
HTH
Have a good evening

emmatmg · 22/01/2004 17:40

Our DS1+2 had the 'pox' last year and before they appeared on DS2 we visited a friends house where he played with their DD a little bit, not in too close contact though.

Low and behold 2-3 weeks later their DD came out in spots.

I'm not sure if it's air born or not but if your nephew is already poorly he may catch it much easier anyway because he's already 'under the weather'.

sb34 · 22/01/2004 17:42

Message withdrawn

emmatmg · 22/01/2004 17:42

mummysurfer, I didn't know that. I'm surprised actually as when we had it we made sure DS2 didn't touch DS1 when the stops were yucky and he still got it.

ponygirl · 22/01/2004 17:44

It's definitely contact with the spots but doesn't necessarily have to be direct: a shared flannel would do it. With a bit of care you'll be fine. HTH

emmatmg · 22/01/2004 17:49

mind you, keeping a 4 and 2 year old apart was virtually impossible so forget my last post....I'm not surprised and probably should know it

Lou33 · 22/01/2004 17:52

Just copied and pasted this:

HOW IS CHICKEN POX SPREAD?
Chicken pox can be spread by direct person-to-person contact droplet or airborne spread of vesicle fluid or secretions of the respiratory tract, such as coughing and sneezing. It is contagious from 1-2 days before the onset of the rash and may be spread until all lesions have dried up and become scabs. After you are exposed to the disease, it may take from 10 days to three weeks before you notice a rash. These two facts may make it hard for you to identify when and where you were exposed to the illness.

To avoid spreading the illness, stay in your room or apartment until all your lesions have dried up (approx. 5-7 days). Do not use public transportation, attend classes or social events. You may have visitors who have had chicken pox in the past. Avoid friends who have not had the disease.

Do not share eating utensils, food, smoking materials or allow others to drink after you. Use plastic utensils and paper plates. Place all paper products that you handle (including tissues) in a plastic bag for disposal. You should also keep your own supply of toilet items (including soap) that are stored away from the items used by others.

Your used bedsheets are another potential source of infection. Place these linens in a plastic bag. At the washer, you or a friend (preferably one who has had chicken pox) can dump the sheets from the bag without touching them. Be sure to use hot water, a strong detergent and a hot dryer setting. After the sheets are washed, they no longer carry the disease.

Non-immune students who are exposed to chicken pox and are pregnant or have some form of immunosuppression may consider receiving varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). The expense of this vaccine limits its use to cases at "special risk." VZIG is most effective if given within three days of exposure.

Crunchie · 22/01/2004 17:52

Thanks for that, we have decided on a compromise!! We will go over at bedtime, once our girls are bathed and ready for bed. They will be installed in the granny annexe (which is not used at the mo) and be put to bed there. newpphew will already be upstairs in bed, in the spare room. Therefore they will not even be playing in a room DN will visit, like the kitchen. His parents have agreed, TBH it is not up to me it is for them to decide. It is just that DN suffers from a lot of digestive problems that are still not fully under control. I think his immume system is a bit screwed up at the mo, and it is not fair to inflict yet another illness on him while his body is trying to fight a bacterical gut infection which has caused multiple food allergies. Poor soul cannot have dairy, wheat, nuts, eggs (I think there are others on the banned list, but that is bad enough!)

Thanks for the quick response. I am happy she's got it now, we are goiung to Centre Parcs in 10 days and I had earmarked this weekend as the cutoff for her catching it (her sister had it 2 weeks ago)

OP posts:
Crunchie · 22/01/2004 17:57

Blimey Lou I'll get the paper plates out and put on a boil wash!!

I wouldn't really care, expect it is not fair on DH who has been so ill

Anyway the whole BIL visit is a drama MIL is such a f***g bitch and she even used the 'we may not be around much longer card!' when justifying why she had to spend every minute of his visit with her rather than see us and the girls. SHE'S ONLY 60!!!!!

OP posts:
Ailsa · 22/01/2004 23:05

Can anyone answer a question for my dd1 - she wants to know why chickenpox are called chickenpox.

mears · 23/01/2004 00:13

Found this

Where did the name "chickenpox" come from?

Chickenpox can be a terrible illness, especially if you catch it
as an adult, but it gets its name from being one of the milder
diseases. The term "chickenpox," for varicella, originated in
the 1700's. Since a chicken is considered the mildest of all
barnyard fowl, the name distinguished the disease from the far
deadlier "smallpox," which resembles chickenpox.

Where did the word "pox" come from?

Persons infected with smallpox break out in a red rash that eventually turns into blisters. If the blisters are broken, they leave a "pock" mark or scar on the skin. The person becomes covered in "pocks." See the connection?

Ailsa · 23/01/2004 12:32

Thanks Mears - I'll tell her when I get home tonight.

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