How long was the gap between your children catching Chicken Pox from one another?

[girlsmum]

The reason I ask is this, DD2 has swimming lessons on monday. DD1 has swimming lessons on a friday.

DD2 has Chicken Pox so did not go last monday. I spoke to the swimming instructor on friday and she said DD1 could not go to her swimming lesson either as she 'probably' would have Chicken Pox too.

I have already paid up until December for these swimming lessons, what if DD1 doesn't actually get spotty for another 3 weeks - it seems she will probably miss another 3 weeks of lessons then.

Do you think this is fair? How long between your children catching Chicken Pox from one another? And do you think they may be a remote chance that DD1 might not get it at all?

I think its 10-14 days until the next one normally comes out in spots.

DS came out in spots on a Monday. Exactly 2 weeks later, DD came out in spots. Had hoped she wouldn't get it (as a 6 week old breastfed baby), but at least it wasn't too bad.

My son came out in the dreaded pox whilst on holiday last year! DS2's spots appeared after we arrived home, 14 days later.

I read somewhere that there is a 90% chance of one sibling passing it to another. There was a two week gap between the start of ds spots and dd's spots, iyswim.

Incubation for chicken pox in between 10 and 21 days. The problem is your daughter will be infectious from about 3 days before the rash appears! Unfortuantely I only speak from text books as I am an infection control nurse, as a mother I have 2 children who have not had chicken pox - yet!!!

Thanks for your replies.

So, do you think it is reasonable that DD1 is not allowed to go swimming?

I think I would take her until she gets the rash. I'm guessing you are not keeping her indoors until she gets it, is she still going to school - again I'm guessing she is so what's the difference?

ds2 had really bad chicken piox earlier this year, and i bathed him and ds1 together, they played together etc etc and ds1 didn't get it at all.

Thats the funny thing Medulla, Pre-School are saying to keep bringing her. But Swimming are insisting I keep her away.

2 weeks to the day. but i know plenty of siblings who've had it months/ years apart.

ps, any one of the kids at the class could've been exposed to the virus without knowing. we kept dd2 away from her new born neice/ pregnant friend just in case, and we were glad we did, as she did get it soon after, but this sounds crazy!

Exactly girlsmum, I think swimming teacher might be overreacting a little. What about all your daughter friends have they been excluded from swimming too? Swimming lessons are expensive and I'm not sure on what grounds she is asking you to keep her away, doesn't seem reasonable. I think I would take her. Good luck

Thanks Medulla again.

I have to ring her swimming instructor on friday morning to 'ask' if DD1 is allowed to go. If DD1 has still not got a rash by then I think I will insist that DD1 is going to go. As I said earlier this could go on for weeks with the slim possibility that DD1 might not get it anyway(as in Alexsmum's experience).

Ds1 had chickenpox and, as the rash had broken out, we were allowed to fly to australia. DS2 got the pox two weeks later which would have meant that he was infectious while we were on the plane. We can never be certain who is incubating the disease as they're most infectious when the rash isn't there - so I would think that life carries on as normal. No point in keeping DD2 away when it's not yet certain.

I don't think its fair for her to not be able to go swimming if she doesn't have the rash. I know she would still be infectious before the rash appears but what if she doesn't get it, are they going to ban her until she does get it?

DD has been exposed to CP loads of times and still hasn't had it. I know its more likely to catch it from a sibling but not guaranteed.

How about if you ask them for a partial refund on the times they are turning her away?