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Original poster

chicken pox and siblings...

18 replies

Naboo · 22/03/2008 19:54

My 2.5 yr old has got the pox (lots of spots but thankfully, not ill). So far, my 6 month old hasn't. She's breast fed, which may help her a bit.

He got spots on wednesday. When is she likely to get it? Ten days after? I can't believe she won't get it...

What's your experience with siblings passing on the pox?! Someone told me she is likely to get it a lot worse as she's been exposed for longer... true or not true, what do you think?

OP posts:

eandh · 22/03/2008 20:03

My dd1 started spots saturday 22nd dec (almost spot free by sat 29th dec!) dd2 started spots Thursday 3rd Jan but only a few till the saturday 5th jan (her 1st birthday )

dd2 had it much worse than dd1, dd1 had around 40 spots mainly chest/back/head but dd2 had them everywhere and her nappy area took ages to clear (think it was the warmth/heat)

Found pitriton worked for dd1 but made dd2 stay awake () so just kept her topped up with calpol/nurofen and lots of aqueaous calamine lotion and clothes free when possible

Lomond · 22/03/2008 20:03

My DD1 got chicken pox in November. DD2 was only 5 months old at the time. It took a full three weeks after DD1's first spot for DD2 to get hers.

I really thought she had escaped it as everyone had told me about 10 days but obviously not in all cases.

She didn't get it any worse than DD1.
Now it's over I am glad they have both had it but I was tearing my hair out at the time.

Lomond · 22/03/2008 20:04

Oh I should say that DD1 had a few stubborn ones that didn't scab over for over 2 weeks but DD2 was over hers in just over a week.

eandh · 22/03/2008 20:05

Sorry forgot to say although dd2 had around 150 spots she seemed to cope better than dd1 (who was whingy) dd2 was fine in the day but they did bother her at night time so she slept with me and I left window open so room wasnt to hot and also when they were really bad in nappy area, took her nappy off and laid on pampers bed mat when she finally settled to sleep I'd put her nappy back on

meemar · 22/03/2008 20:08

Oh god I hope it doesnt take DS2 3 weeks to get it!

DS1 has just come down with pox yesterday and we are going on holiday on 16th April. I don't think you can fly until the last spot has scabbed over.

Seona1973 · 22/03/2008 20:14

the incubation period is 10-21 days so it can take up to 3 weeks to get it. dd was 3 when she had them and passed them onto her 6 month old brother. Hers was much worse than his or maybe she was just at a more dramatic age!!

3NAB · 22/03/2008 20:15

My 1 year old got chicken pox two weeks after her older brother so I had a month of not being able to go out. DS was okay with it, DD was really poorly.

Original poster

Naboo · 22/03/2008 21:04

oh cripes, didn't realise it could be up to 21 days. What a mare. I'm worried she's going to get it worse; she's only little.

Had anyone had a child who's had it and their sibling didn't get it? I'll be so surprised if she doesn't get it, as he's practically been licking her face. nice.

OP posts:

needtoasksomething · 22/03/2008 21:08

My DS has been exposed to it and today has come out in lots of spots on his tummy and back. he is 2.5 years old.
I am really hoping that its a viral thing and not the pox after all because I have a 4 week old baby as well...
Is it very bad for such a small baby to be exposed to it does anyone know?? He was b fed for 1 week and now is bottle fed, so I guess his immunity is still fairly low?

murcimari · 22/03/2008 21:10

DD had it first when two and a bit, then 4 mths old DS had absolutely nothing ...and I've heard of lots of other people who experienced the same with their two kids.

murcimari · 22/03/2008 21:12

needtoask - according to my GP (as I had the same worry myself), the smaller they are the easier they get through it.

Eddas · 22/03/2008 21:13

my dd had it, gained spots for a few days then scabbed over. We were spot free(scabs still there!) for a week before ds came out in them. Doctor told me ds would get it and it would be worse. DS was 7 months when he had it(not bf though) but he coped fine. DD had it very very midly(about 20 spots if that) he had loads

If you think about it dc1 caught it from someone in passing where as dc2 will get it from dc1 who they're with all the time so they will catch more of the virus. Not the technical way to explain what I mean but hope you see what I mean! And as I said IME it is true dc2 is worse off than dc1

ladytophamhatt · 22/03/2008 21:18

Ds3 and Ds4 had them excatly 2 weeks apart, Ds3 had a quite a few but wasn't ill at all whereas Ds4 was literally covered in them, in almost 9 yrs of being a mum, after 4 children he's the illest any of of my children have ever been.

It was bloody awful.

Original poster

Naboo · 22/03/2008 21:21

needtoasksomething - i have heard (more than once now), that they handle it better when younger than when older. not sure if urban myth, but hope it's true.

OP posts:

ladytophamhatt · 22/03/2008 21:27

1yr old ds4 was far far far FAR worse then 4yr old ds3.

buttercreamfrosting · 22/03/2008 21:27

I have 3 ds and ds2(3)got it first, followed exactly 10 days later by ds1(5)and ds3(1.5). Ds2 had it very mildly, about 10 spots in total and not very itchy. Spots scabbed over and gone in 4 days. By far the worst was ds1 who was covered and very uncomfortable with a temp for the duration. Ds 3 really not so bad but for the fact that all seemed concentrated on his poor bottom! Most of the people I know say that their youngest children seemed to suffer less than the older ones but I think it depends on the child as well....

Nicecupofwine · 22/03/2008 21:28

My dd1 got it at 20 months old and 14 days later my baby got it. She was just a month old and got about 5 spots. Was told beause she got it so lightly she may not be immune when it does the rounds again. Then my dh got it at the same time as my dd2. At least dd1 and I weren't house bound for another fortnight!

Panyanpickle77 · 22/03/2008 21:38

Dd(5) had it 2 weeks ago, and Ds (2.5) and DH (31 lol) have now got it. They are covered, but its mainly on their head and back. DD was fine once the pox appeared, DH is tired (a good excuse to do very little lol) and DS is quite poorly with it.

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