Chicken pox - advice needed

[glamourbadger]

My DD1 is on day 7 of chicken pox. They have fully crusted over so she is no longer contagious.

My problem is with DD2 who has been in constant contact with her sister but not yet shown any sign of spots. The NHS website says it takes 10-21 days for the symptoms to show after you have caught the virus.

Should I keep DD2 away from other children for the next 21 days? DD1 is now raring to go and after a week at home we are all going a bit stir crazy. What would you other mums do in this situation?

Hi, I have just been in this exact situation. Two days after DS1 stopped being contagious DS2 got his first spot.

You can't keep her in isolation for 3 weeks just incase she gets chicken pox - she might not get it!

Chances are your DD1 will have been in contact with other children before she got her first spot and there is nothing you could have done about it anyway.

The best and most responsible thing you can do with CP is to keep your children away from others if you know they are contagious, that way you minimize the number of people who come into contact with it, but you can't stop it from spreading completely.

In the past people used to hold "chicken pox parties" to try expose their children so they got the infection when they were young. It is much less severe in children so it was thought to be a good idea to get it over woth rather than risk getting it in adulthood where it can cause severe pneumonia.

You're right meemar, I am being over cautious. DD1 came into contact with scores of children before her spots appeared and probably infected a lot of them.

I am really hoping DD2 gets it - will be nice to have this illness out of the way!