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Original poster

Would you take your dc to Tesco if they had chickenpox?

180 replies

QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:12

ds3 came down with chickenpox on Saturday, bless him. Hopefully ds4 will catch it very soon as I am due to start work in 4 weeks.

I need ideas on what I can do with the two of them for the next week. I think we will go stir crazy if we don't go out! Today is first day off playgroup and I am getting frustrated already!

Of course, I need to get some groceries in, it will be ok to nip in and straight out wouldn't it, if I kept him in the trolley and didn't let him run around?

dh is not available until late on Thursday this week and I am severely limited to what help I can draw on from family members due to their own health problems - dad has leukaemia so he just CANNOT come anywhere near atm.

OP posts:
itsmeNDP · 29/01/2007 11:12

I would think it would be absolutely fine.

belgo · 29/01/2007 11:14

I would take him to tescos. Wipe the trolley after he has sat in it, where his hands have been.

I was stuck in last week with my two with the chicken pox - it drives you mad doesn't it, being stuck in. 'cabin fever' I think is the expression, and it certainly applies to my lively three year old!

Chandra · 29/01/2007 11:15

I wouldn't, sorry. Unless the spots have already crusted over, no.

BettySpaghetti · 29/01/2007 11:15

Have the spots dried out yet? If not, is he not still contagious? Never quite sure when its "safe" TBH.

If I wasn't 100% sure that hes no longer contagious I wouldn't go to Tesco as you never know who is vulnerable to the virus.

DetentionGrrrl · 29/01/2007 11:17

if he's contagious, he shouldn't be out.

Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:19

I would say he is still very much contagious as only a couple of them have started to crust and he has produced quite a lot of new ones overnight.

I know I should be careful, pregnant women and the elderly etc but he was out and about for the 2 days prior to the spots coming out which is, I am told, when it is at it's most catching. So he has already inadvertantly infected anyone.

OP posts:
wire · 29/01/2007 11:19

What a selfish post! Can you not think of other people that might be at risk of these illnesses? My DD is very vulnerable to virus like this and I cannot believe you would seriously put others at risk! If you can consider members of your family that are at risk, then I please ask you to consider others!

chopchopbusybusy · 29/01/2007 11:19

No - I think you answered your own question by knowing your Dad can't go near him. He doesn't have to touch someone - he only has to cough or sneeze to pass it on. Could you have a Tesco delivery instead?

bandstand · 29/01/2007 11:19

i thoiught they were contagious before the spots appeared?

BettySpaghetti · 29/01/2007 11:19

I have just had a look on netdoctor -they suggest that within about 5 days of the spots starting to come out they should all be out and scabbed over by which time its safe.

Blu · 29/01/2007 11:20

Nope - I wouldn't.
For the worry of infecting someone else (like your dad fro e.g) or pg women etc.

Chickenpox is spread by droplet infection, isn't it? i.e breathing?

DumbledoresGirl · 29/01/2007 11:20

I took my child with CP to Sainsburys (kept him in trolley) and I met another woman there who had 2 boys with CP (although they had reached the crusting over stage). So I would do it.

bandstand · 29/01/2007 11:21

i dont think i would take.. you would have to be prepared for the angry people!

Blu · 29/01/2007 11:21

Ther's always a period before you KNOW they have it that they could have inadvertetly infected others, but once you know, I don't think it's fair to risk infecting yet more.

chopchopbusybusy · 29/01/2007 11:22

Yes - he was contagious in the few days before the spots appeared and remains so until all spots are scabbed over and new ones have stopped appearing. The difference is that you now KNOW he is contagious.

DumbledoresGirl · 29/01/2007 11:22

Oops just seen wire's very angry post.

Well, all I can say is, I am sorry, I did it. I didn't meet anyone angry with me for doing it, only another woman doing the same thing.

Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:23

wire - what an aggressive post! Unnecessary imo.

I AM thinking of others of course which is why I have banned my dad and dh's elderly parents from visiting. Selfish, indeed!

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 29/01/2007 11:24

No, I wouldn't, not until the scabs have all crusted over. The fact he was contagious before the spots appeared was out of your control, but this isn't. You couldn't stop him infecting anyone then, but now you can.

DumbledoresGirl · 29/01/2007 11:25

Plus I recall going to the chemist for calamine lotion and the man in the queue in front of me was there for the very same thing for the very same reason! There was a time when everyone in the village seemed affected or knew someone who was. I can understand it is hard for people who have vulnerable children to care for, but the disease is contagious before the spots appear too. Also, what was I supposed to do, with 3 small children, a husband who worked long hours, no-one I could call on?

WideWebWitch · 29/01/2007 11:25

I would go.

SecondhandRose · 29/01/2007 11:25

What you should be thinking more about is that your child is prone to infection whilst he has the open sores and he could potentially contract something more serious.

Chandra · 29/01/2007 11:25

YEs, it is infectious from a couple of days before the spots appear, but then you didn't know about it, now you do. Hence the difference.

I had to pay £400 to delay a flight because DS had chicken pox and a few spots didn't crust over before the day. I could have easily concealed them with clothes (they were in his tummy) but, how could I know if someone with a compromised inmune system was around?.

It wouldn't have made a difference for me as I would have never know if someone had a bad time due to my actions, but I just decided not to do it and to pay the fee, just because I would hate somebody doing the same to my child if he was in that situation.

Blu · 29/01/2007 11:26

WEll, Wire does mention that she has a child who is very vulnerable...

belgo · 29/01/2007 11:27

Chandra, an aeroplane is different due to recycled air.

at 400 pounds - wasn't this covered by insurancce?

dejags · 29/01/2007 11:28

QE - in answer to your OP.

I definitely wouldn't take my DC out in public until I was absolutely certain that he was no longer contagious.

As a person whose holiday was ruined when both my kids caught CP from an infected child on an aeroplane I feel quite strongly about this.

It is a bind though [chin up emoticon]