Definitve answer for how long a child is contagious with chicken pox please? Everyone seems to have a different opinion, even Drs? (or should that be especially Drs?)

[dandycandyjellybean]

Anyone?

until all the spots have crusted over. No more blisters, just scabs. IMO.

Yes - I'm with CK, no more blisters.

thanks CaptainKarvol, anyone else?

when the last spot has dried and scabbed over.

normally when all spots have scabbed over which is 5-7 days after the first spots appear - but I have also heard that after 5 days they wont pass on chicken pox regardless of the state of the spots/scabbing. Cant remember where I read that though.

from nhs direct:

You are infectious from about two days before the rash appears until roughly five days after. Therefore, you, or your child, should stay at home until all of the blisters have fully crusted over, and this usually happens 5-7 days after the first blister appears. After the last blister has burst and crusted over, you are no longer infectious.

oh, thanks, there seems to be more of a concencus than I thought. Cheer lovelies.

From the health protection agency

Chickenpox -
Recommended period to be kept
away from school, nursery, or
childminders - 5 days from onset of rash

very useful document - HPA Guidance on Infection Control in Schools and other Child Care Settings

www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947358374