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Original poster

How long after sores is chicken pox contagious

14 replies

PavlovtheCat · 27/05/2007 10:47

My friend's DS aged 4 has had chicken pox. His last sore was found on thursday last week, and has scabbed over. They have done a thorough search and have found no other new ones since Thursday.
Is there a contagious period after this, where it is still airborne?
I have a 10 month old and dont want her to get it, yet, miss seeing my best friend and her family, desperately want to see her today...if its not contagious.

OP posts:
burstingbug · 27/05/2007 11:23

I seem to recall something about a 10 day thing about pox, not sure what it was though

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 27/05/2007 11:25

thanks bursting, for adding something to my lonely thread! I hope not, I have not seeen them for 3 weeks, and they are like my family, and I miss their LO lots

OP posts:
DragonFaerie · 27/05/2007 11:26

The NHS direct website reckons five days after, but if you saw your freind before her DS came out in the spots then he was contagious then anyway I think ?

NotQuiteCockney · 27/05/2007 11:26

Five days, according to the most recent department of education rules.

littlelapin · 27/05/2007 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotQuiteCockney · 27/05/2007 11:26

Oh, and they're contagious one day before the spots come out.

lissie · 27/05/2007 11:27

i always thought that once the spots came out it was no longer contagious.

im probably wrong tho!

talcy0 · 27/05/2007 11:28

i think......
and i could be wrong...
perhaps i should have googled it...
but....
i think....
it is no longer contagious when the spots have dried up.

but i could be wrong

NotQuiteCockney · 27/05/2007 11:28

Just for variety, here's the HPA's current advice. Chicken pox is on page 3.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 27/05/2007 11:30

LL - I read that link thank you for it...it does not say if there is a period after, just that once the scabs have all formed, its no longer contagious, I should take that as meaning its ok then?

If DD was over 12 months I would not be too bothered by her getting it...
She has not seen LO for about 3 weeks, he got first spot week last thursday, so prob not within infectious period...

OP posts:
Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 27/05/2007 11:34

NQSC - seems to indicate 5 days from rash appearing, rather than from the scabs drying up. It also says attack rate is 87% in susceptible children! , my that is contagious!

OP posts:
littlelapin · 27/05/2007 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 27/05/2007 11:37

LL - I do too. And my friend has just this second phoned so I made the decision to say yes.
Thanks all!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 27/05/2007 18:49

Yes, five days after scabs appearing, not after them drying up.

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