Chickenpox and adults

[LadyP]

Hi

I have seen a recent thread on chickenpox, but it didn't answer the question that I have.

My nephew has chickenpox. DS does not yet but according to the doctor is at high risk because he spends so much time with his cousin.

The doctor also said it is dangerous for pregnant women and babies under 1 to be in contact with chickenpox.

My dilemma is that I have a hen-do to go to on Saturday. At least two of the mothers have babies under 1.

Although DS does not have it, does this make me a risk as I have been exposed to it through my nephew?

I would say yes (with my limited knowledege). I also suffer from mild shingles when I have been exposed to chickenpox, but have only noticed one tiny spot on my hand this time round.

So I'm hoping Mumsnetters out there may be able to give me some advice.

Thanks

I think that you can catch chicken pox from shingles so if you've got shingles, you're contagious.

You are not actually contagious from having been in contact with your nephew (or your DS if he's got it) but active shingles may mean that you are.

If the mothers of the Under Ones (or pregnant mothers) have had CP, there is not a risk.

Right - if the Mum's have had chickenpox (and most will have- or will be immune) then there is no problem you can expose away. They won't get it and nor will there baies (a they will have receievd antibodies from the placenta).

I was exposed right at the end of pregnancy (worse time to get it as it can be passed to a newborn when it is serious). I hadn't had chickenpox as a child, but blood tests showed I was immune anyway.

I would go and wouldn't worry about it- the Mums and babies will be around chickenpox all the time anyway it's so common. If you're really worried you could warn them that you may be infectious.

Alos how under 1 are the babies? If they're newborn it's a problem, but not usually if they're in the second half of the year. They could only really catch it early anyway if their Mum's hadn't had it or been exposed to it as a child.

My ds2 was exposed to chickenpox from his brother when he was 6 months. He didn't get it. We were seeing a paediatrician for ds1 at the time. He said Ds2 would probably still be protected but it wouldn'tbe a problem if he wasn't.

Message withdrawn

Thanks all for the replies.

Podmog, I have had several bouts of shingles over the years (first started when I was 15 and the doctor confirmed it was through exposure to my best friend's chicken pox). And all subsequent bouts have been after I have had contact with people who have chicken-pox.

Believe me, I know it's painful but I must admit that each time I have had it , it has been less and less painful and fewer spots.

Anyway, my sister's doctor has confirmed that it is fine for me to go to the hen-do.

Thanks again all

Message withdrawn

Podmog - I'll second that! It was once thought that you could, but not anymore.
If I remember correctly they are both forms of the Herpes virus, but one cannot trigger the other?

Rest assured, Podmog, I was not doubting you (damn e-mail). Just telling you what I had been told by my doctor.

Hence, why I thanked all for their advice

Hi, I am new here. Only found the site as I was searching for advice on how to help chicken pox scars healing. The little blisters popped up 3 weeks exactly to date, before baby is due. What luck eh! I also thought I had chicken pox as a child, not that it mattered then anyway, it was still chicken pox and it had to run its course.
'Lil baby is due in about 6 days,(midwives did a good job of monitoring and all is well in the aquarium) the scabs have fallen off and I am longing for the day to soak in a bath to rejuvenate my skin after all that calamine lotion painting. Intend to do some mild scrubbing with a loofah sponge and facial scrubs. What I want to know is if there is any lotions or general over the counter item one can use to help the skin to heal even faster, say rubbing Vitamin E or a lotion with Aloe Vera into the skin, will those help the skin to heal faster besides drinking lots of fluids?
Any thoughts!!

Can I just say that lots of people everyone assume you can't have chicken pox twice. I had it as a child and again as an adult when it was awful. My doctor was amazed I had it twice but I know of several people who had it the same time as me for the second time

Batters, re lavender in pregnancy. Lavender essential oil is considered one of the safest oils and can be used neat. Aromatherapy in pregnancy is a controversial subject.

Different aromatherapists and different aromatherapy books differ enormously. There is lots of conflicting advice unfortunately. Some say don't use oils at all in the first trimester, some say certain oils are okay, some say use certain oils after 4/5 months; some say certain oils are good in pregnancy some say the same oils should be avoided throughout!

Some say use lavender after 5 months, some say use it in the early weeks, some say don't use until labour. All I can say is that it is an emmanogogue. Emmanogogues are substances that can bring on a period so IMO I would avoid until last trimester at least even tho loads use it from conception

I also have had chicken-pox twice - as a child and again in my thirties. Second time, it only affected me from the shoulders up and was awful in my scalp. I have to say I was the flakiest person in town!!!

But according to medical opinion, you can't get it twice - so who is right? There are quite a few "pox" viruses that present along similar lines to chickenpox - could it be that you might have had one of these? Have to say, I'm really confused - more so by the fact that dh's dad has had shingles but swears blind he's never had chickenpox - again supposedly a medical impossibility.

I believe if you have not had a really good bout of chicken pox first time round, you might get it again. However, we rely on our mothers often to tell us if we have had it before and they can be mistaken. You definately cannot get shingles unless you have had chickenpox so it is likely that your FIL (willow2) had it but does not remember it.

My dd1 definitely had cp twice, first time very mild, second time "properly". I think she must have had dd2's dose as at 6 she has still not had it.

I had a mild case of CP when younger, then came into contact when 7 months pregnant, my GP ran a blood test and I was not immune. my (dishy)doctor gave me two jabs (one in each rear cheek) to stop me catching it and if I did it would have only been a mild attack.

Unfortunately for me, I got home to show DH my jab marks, whereas he kindly informed me I had one of the biggest spots on my bum that he'd ever seen. How embarassing!

Can I also just mention that it isn't well known, but there is a vaccine for chickenpox for certain vunerable groups available on the NHS.

I pushed for it as a blood test had shown I'd never had it and I wanted to plan baby number 2 without fear that ds would pass it on to me while I was pregnant.

It's not completely ideal, as they're not sure yet how long the vaccine will last (I figured worst case scenario 10 years and that would cover childbearing years - I'm not working on the basis of lifetime immunity). There are two vaccinations 8 weeks apart, then you musn't conceive until 3 months after the last dose - so it's not a quick fix either. There is also a small chance you can be infectious to others for a while after both jabs.

On the plus side, I had no symptoms to speak of (although there is a huge long list - most of them rare) and it gave me some protection right from the start (although optimum protection is 4-6 weeks after final dose).

I'm not recommending it for everyone, and you'd have to do your own risk assessment (especially as I think there is a tendency to over vaccinate) - I'm not sure I'd want my children to have the chickenpox vaccine unless they'd reached late teens without getting it as in children it's so mild. It is an option though, one that I think isn't well known.