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Original poster

can my dd catch chicken pox from my dad who has shingles?

21 replies

ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:21

One place tells me no, the other yes. Is she at risk of getting chicken pox if we see my dad over the weekend?

TIA

OP posts:
JiminyCricket · 06/04/2007 10:24

As I understand it no...if you've had chickenpox as a child you can get shingles as an adult when run down/vulnerable, but not 'catch it'. But I'm not an expert.

CanAiry · 06/04/2007 10:27

Message deleted

Miaou · 06/04/2007 10:30

Yes - my dds caught chicken pox from dh when he had shingles.

You can't catch shingles from chicken pox but you can catch chicken pox from shingles.

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:30

That is what I thought, but my DH's friend said that if you have shingles you can give somebody chicken pox, which was confirmed by one site.
But then another site said you could only "catch" chicken pox with "exposure to the scabs" so as long as my dd isn't touching the sores then she should be okay?
Confusing. She's 18 months old and not had chicken pox yet, I know it is better for them to have it earlier so maybe it wont be a bad thing if she did??

OP posts:
Furball · 06/04/2007 10:31

Yes you can catch CP from shingles it's the same virus

gemmiegoatEGGS · 06/04/2007 10:32

another vote for yes, my sister had shingles just before she gave birth last year and had to keep the kids away from her

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:34

Now, the question is, do I tell DH you cant, and go for lunch this weekend and risk DD getting chicken pox...
Is it better for them to get chicken pox earlier rather than later?
I was surpised a few months back when three kids at the CM's got chicken pox but DD didn't.

OP posts:
flack · 06/04/2007 10:35

Miaou is right, CanAiry and JiminyCricket are confused about whether your DD is at risk of catching shingles (and it's true, she can't, ).

People with shingles have a resurgence of the CP virus in their bodies, so you cannot catch shingles, although I think it's theoreticlaly possible to have cp and shingles back-to-back, but you'd have to be very immune-compromised to start with. I reckon I caught cp from someone with shingles.

I would get chickenpox over with if I were you. But think mine will be a tiny minority view on MN.

flack · 06/04/2007 10:36

It's awful to get cp as an adult, so don't miss opportunities to get it over with when she's still a child, that's my logic.

Miaou · 06/04/2007 10:37

Well that might be true elf but iiwy and go to visit, then be prepared for the fact that she may well pick it up. We didn't think the dds had got anywhere near dh's scabs but that didn't stop them catching it!

18 months is quite a good age to get them imo, ds had it at 18m and he was too little to work out that scratching brings (temporary) relief

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:38

Well, I think people would think me "evil motherish" to want to get chicken pox out the way, i'm not sure whether it is or isn't!
Will go for lunch. Based on the CM incident, she probably wont get them anyway!

OP posts:
LucyJones · 06/04/2007 10:38

I wouldn't go tbh. My 3 year old and 6 month old have recently had chicken pox. It was awful, they both got it really badly, and neither slept or ate very well for a week. I would never knowingly expose a child to it. Don't forget it's the Easter holidays so you don't want to be stuck inside for the next 10 days or so with it

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:38

I had them at six weeks old from my sister - a variety of things I caught from her!

OP posts:
eemie · 06/04/2007 10:39

Miaou is right.

Better for them to get it younger if they're otherwise healthy.

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:41

well, she's generally healthy, just finished all her other jabs so the 'pox is the only other one for me to worry about (or so I am led to believe) so might risk it.

I wont expect any sympathy if she does get them and I'm on here moaning!

OP posts:
LucyJones · 06/04/2007 10:41

would you willingly expose your dcs to checken pox thread here Might be some help!!

Miaou · 06/04/2007 10:42

Thing is, the older you are when you get it, the potentially worse it is. Unless you are going to get vaccinated against it (which I don't think you can do in this country, though I think they vaccinate in the states), then IMO it's best to get it over with as young as possible. They will be exposed to the virus at various points during childhood, and because the CP virus is at its most infectious just before the spots come out, then you can't possibly tell when they will come into contact with it and therefore avoid it.

Yes it's not a nice illness, but better sooner than later!!

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:48

We are going to go. Dad had been with DD before he was diagnosed with shingles so perhaps she's in incubation period now?

OP posts:
Miaou · 06/04/2007 10:51

A couple of quotes from various sites:

"It tends to be milder in younger children than in older children and if contracted in adulthood it is significantly more unpleasant."

"Chickenpox lasts 7 to 10 days in children and longer in adults. Adults can feel very ill and take longer to recover. They are also more likely than children to suffer complications."

The younger the better!!

Miaou · 06/04/2007 10:51

Quite possibly, elf!! Have a nice time and don't worry about it

Original poster
ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 10:52

Thanks

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