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Original poster

DD has chicken pox; do I still go to the ball?

115 replies

Hulababy · 05/05/2005 19:54

Had to happen really as a fair few of her nursery friends have had them or currently have them, including her best friend. She was fine this morning - although I did only see her very briefly to give her a quick kiss and cuddle before I went off to work. DH showered and dressed her and she was fine.

But he got a phone call this afternoon from nursery, ad the satff said that they though she had chicken pox. They'd seen a few spots, a couple with blisters. But she was in good spirits and happy with herself, so no need to collect her early.

So, DH did pick her up a bit early anyway and brought her home. When I got back I thought I would have a look - and true enough her front and bak, her neck, hair line and her bottom have quite a lot of spots on them. They are even in her "bits" too Think they are starting to itch a bit too, but she definitely isn't poorly - laughing and running about, talking non stop.

She's in bed now.

But tomorrow afternoon I am supposed to be having my hair highlighted and my eye brows waxed. My dad is supposed to be coming over to look after her for the hour or two it will take.

And Saturday night me and DH have tickets for a ball. We paid a fair bit of money for them, and have had it planned for weeks. My mum and dad are supposed to be babysitting.

But do I go to these two things?

How will DD be by then? At the moment she isn't poorly - is she likely to start to feel poorly?

Oooh - and now I just feel all itchy everywhere!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 05/05/2005 23:46

That is what I thought. We have both HAD chicken pox.

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 05/05/2005 23:47

can you pass the virus on if you don't have it???

Original poster
Hulababy · 05/05/2005 23:49

mieow - I am trying to google the answer to that, but so far I can find nothing to say that.

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 05/05/2005 23:50

but I thought that if you have had it you are immune to the virus...

Clarinet60 · 05/05/2005 23:50

Mumsnet is a funny place these days. My son's epilepsy thread got hardly any posts so is virtually dead, but chicken pox goes on and on forever....

sallystrawberry · 05/05/2005 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aero · 05/05/2005 23:52

The good news is that she will recover very quickly and seem as right as rain after the worst has passed, though she may seem more tired than usual for a while after the pox seem to have cleared up.
You'll know yourself on Saturday whether you will go out or not - I do hope you can go - sounds like you could do with a night out.

sparklymieow · 05/05/2005 23:52

Droile thats the way it goes sometimes, have posted messages myself about my kids disabilities and get no answers

lima · 05/05/2005 23:57

advice from NHS direct:
It is spread by direct contact with broken chickenpox blisters or by inhaling infected airborne droplets.

presunably a non- infected person cannot be a 'carrier'?

Original poster
Hulababy · 05/05/2005 23:57

Found this:

Once a person has had chickenpox, they will have immunity to the disease for the rest of their life.

(www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/chickenpox.htm)

But nothing to say whether or not an adult can carry the virus and pass it on them.

Shingles is NOT an issue at all, as chicken pox exposure does not lead to shingles.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 05/05/2005 23:58

Lima - that is what I am getting too. Have tried loads!

So, there is therefore no reason for anyone who has already had chicken pox to stay isolated as well???

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Clarinet60 · 06/05/2005 00:00

This is from another thread about chicken pox. I could look up research from my work, but too tired now.

'There are two periods when it could cause complications (in pregnancy). Close to birth and in 1st half of pregnancy. Main risk from 0-13 weeks is miscarriage (low risk though). From 13-21 weeks is a greater chance of the virus affecting the baby. Really bad time to get it is immediately before birth.'

I do know that you can get it more than once, and know a couple of adults who were really poorly with it. I've seen one friend in particular really suffer. Knowing this alone makes me wary of inflicting it on anyone if I can avoid it. I'm not a guilt-tripper, just considerate.

lima · 06/05/2005 00:00

and this from mamashealth
How is it Transmitted?

Chicken pox is transmitted through the air. When a patient with chicken pox coughs or sneezes, they expel tiny droplets that carry the chicken pox virus (varicella-zoster virus, VZV). If a person who has never had chicken pox inhales these particles, the virus enters the lungs and is carried through the blood to the skin where it causes the typical rash of chicken pox. The infected droplets cause an initial infection in the respiratory epithelium. The incubation period (the time between exposure to the virus and appearance of symptoms) is between 10 and 20 days.

Before the typical rash appears, patients often develop a fever, headache, swollen glands and other flu like symptoms.

Skin vesicles contain the virus but are not the primary sources. Scabs are not infectious. Patients are contagious from 2 days before onset of the rash until all lesions have crusted.

Doesn't actually say anything about 'carriers' but can't see how someone who isn't affected could pass it on

sparklymieow · 06/05/2005 00:01

and from what I just read Shingles is actually caused by the chicken pox virus laying dorment for years and then reactives. Nothing to do with catching it from a child etc, you can catch chicken pox from a person with Shingles but not shingles from chicken pox...

Clarinet60 · 06/05/2005 00:02

I'd be a bit wary of taking netdoctor as gospel. I've read a couple of things on there in the past that I know from my own work to be just plain wrong.

Original poster
Hulababy · 06/05/2005 00:02

It is VERY VERY rare to get it more than once though. And if we go along those lines, we shouldn't go to work or shopping too - most of us have more contact with work collegaues during a day, than on a few hours out at a party, where you know no one is pg in your immediate group.

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Original poster
Hulababy · 06/05/2005 00:04

That is correct mieow

Droile - it is not just that one website stating this informaton; it is several.

I may call up NHS Direct to confirm tomorrow - beacuse I am considerate! I have already informed those people we have had contact with - well, those who's children we have seen and those who are pg. Because I do care.

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 06/05/2005 00:05

BUT can you pass it on if you are immune???

Clarinet60 · 06/05/2005 00:05

As I've said before hulababy, you do your thing and I'll do mine.
I'm going to bed now, goodnight. Have a nice time at your ball.

Original poster
Hulababy · 06/05/2005 00:07

mieow - I have NO idea at all; but the research would suggest not at the moment. I will try and find out more tomorrow. It's getting very late now.

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sparklymieow · 06/05/2005 00:11

Hulababy, was actually directing that at Droile not you..I'm sure that you can't pass it on if you have alread had it, otherwise all the schools, nurseries etc would have to close

Aero · 06/05/2005 00:14

I guess you could, if you pop a blister on your child then go and rub it onto someone's skin who's not had it - how likely is that? In truth, I've never heard advice that life stops for immune parents of children with chicken pox (except to look after them of course)! So, unless she's v poorly Hula, go out - your parents will be perfectly able to deal with her and are no more at risk of shingles than you or I! Do not feel guilty because of this thread! My BIL is a pharmasist and I trust him completely with the information he gives me. He certainly did not tell me that I am infectious too!

lima · 06/05/2005 00:18

ladies -I think Droile is very worried about her son - she mentioned her thread earlier- it's called Funny Turns

sparklymieow · 06/05/2005 00:26

I did read her thread, can't give advice as i have no knowledge, but i do hope her Ds is ok.

Original poster
Hulababy · 06/05/2005 07:51

Thanks all.

I have actually just phoned NHS Direct to find out one way or the other; waiting for their ring back. I will post their advice later.

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