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Original poster

Is it irresponsible to take a child with chicken pox out?

102 replies

thatsnotmymonster · 05/12/2008 09:17

DS (3) has just come out in a few spots. 2 others from nursery are also off with chicken pox. He is not going and is missing his Christmas Fayre today.

I have 2 other younger children at home and a million things to do (I have no food in and need to go to the supermarket for a start).

Would you go?

OP posts:

Picante · 05/12/2008 09:18

You can't stay locked up. Just stay away from places full of children. If you need to get food, get food.

RubyrubytheRubynosedReindeer · 05/12/2008 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PortAndStilton · 05/12/2008 09:21

He is a risk to anyone who's immunosuppressed (which includes any transplant patients). I wouldn't take him out if it could be in any way avoided, no -- this is what internet food shopping was invented for.

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lostittoday · 05/12/2008 09:21

I wouldn,t but I know its tempting when there are things you need to do.
Is there anyone that can help you out today.
Can you do some online grocery shopping.

BreevandercampLGJ · 05/12/2008 09:23

I am sure the older people in your community would really thank you for shingles, this close to Christmas.

DumbledoresGirl · 05/12/2008 09:23

If you need food and he is not feeling ill in himself, I would go out (as briefly as possible). I did when mine had CP.

I don't get the internet shopping argument. If you are out of milk or bread or have no meal for the evening, how is internet shopping going to help you? I cannot recall a time when I have placed and internet order and had it delivered the same day.

hazeyjane · 05/12/2008 09:26

I stayed in for a week and a half when dd's had chickenpox, and had shopping delivered. I know it is horrible and really difficult when other dc's are well, but it's not just kids that can get chickenpox (dh had it the week after the dd's and he was very ill).

We went to playgroup and one of the mums had bought her lo with chicken pox in ('not staying long' she said) I thought it was unfair because there were pregnant women there and people with babies who were tiny.

Sorry that your ds is poorly and hope he gets better soon.

shitehawk · 05/12/2008 09:29

No, I wouldn't go.

Chicken pox can be very dangerous to pregnant women and those with impaired immunity, and is very easily passed on.

lostittoday · 05/12/2008 09:29

yes Chickenpox can be much worse for adults than it is for children I would stay in on that basis.
Is there not a relation or friend who can get some shopping in for you.

Doodle2U · 05/12/2008 09:30

Pregnant women, older people, people on chemo drugs for cancer and arthritis...loads of people out there for whom CP is a serious problem.

I'd leg out fast & get the basics required for today if you absolutely have to and then do an internet shop to be delivered tomorrow.

They're only infectious for about 5 days, so you'll manage.

Calomine & Piriton are essentials!

PortAndStilton · 05/12/2008 09:30

You don't catch shingles from chicken pox (although you can get chicken pox from shingles). Shingles is the existing chicken pox virus (that you already have from a previous chicken pox infection) reactivating itself in your body.

If you really really really have no food in the house then you need to get some food, obviously. But in that case you do it as quickly and with as little exposure as possible -- which normally wouldn't mean a trip to the supermarket. Most people have a corner shop or petrol station where a few essentials can be picked up closer to them than a supermarket.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 05/12/2008 09:30

Internet shopping will not be delivered today and probably not tomorrow, being Saturday. I have 2 toddler, a 7mth od and no bread and nothing for tonight's dinner.

No one that can help me out today.

It says on the internet that shingles can't be caught from exposure to chicken pox
from Nhs.co.uk

'After a chickenpox infection, the virus stays in the body's nerve tissues (remains dormant). It does not do any harm because it is kept under control by the immune system, the part of the body that fights infection. At any time later in life, but usually when you are an adult, the virus can be reactivated (come back), causing a different form of the virus, known as shingles.

The first sign of shingles is usually a pain in the area of the affected nerve. Seven days later a rash will usually appear, followed by blisters, that tend to only affect one side of your body. If you have shingles you are contagious to anyone who has not had chickenpox. However, it is not possible to catch shingles from someone who has chickenpox.'

He is absolutely fine in himself.

OP posts:

littleboyblue · 05/12/2008 09:32

I always thought that as long as you'd had it you were immune, including pregnant women (after 1st trimester) and the baby would benefit from mother immunity.

I wouldn't want to go out until spots had scabbed over, but if you need to go, you need to go. It's not an ideal world and if there is no one that can go for you or sit with dc's hen you have no choice really.#
The fact is that your dc has been infectious before spots came out anyway....
Agree not to let him run around though, I'd still go if I had to but would limit the chance of contact as much as poss

DumbledoresGirl · 05/12/2008 09:32

Nip out then thatsnotmymonster.

You are bound to have people who disagree with you here, but only you know your circumstances. If you need food, you need food.

stealthsquiggle · 05/12/2008 09:33

I was told by my GP that once spots are out you pretty much have to come into physical contact with spots to catch it.

So if his spots are under clothes and if it was just him I would take him out, personally - and just keep him away from people a bit (in trolley/pushchair)

OTOH, if your younger DC haven't had it, they could well be incubating it now and would be very infectious, so if they haven't had it I think it would be anti-social to go out if you can possibly help it.

shitehawk · 05/12/2008 09:33

No, shingles can't be caught from chicken pox.

It is the dangers to other people which are more worrying.

But it sounds as if you have made your mind up.

edam · 05/12/2008 09:36

It's not shingles you need to worry about, it's what other people have already said about your child infecting someone who is immunosuppressed, or pregnant, or 1001 other things.

It is VERY hard to stay in with a chicken-pox ridden child, I know, but would you really want to bring serious illness on someone else?

If you must go out, I'd avoid the supermarket, purely because of the numbers of people.

lostittoday · 05/12/2008 09:36

Is there nothing you can muster up.
Do you have a dp/dh who can bring something back on way home from work.

edam · 05/12/2008 09:37

And I'd keep him in his own pushchair, NOT a supermarket trolley. You don't want his pus infecting the next person who uses it.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 05/12/2008 09:37

Well apparantly it takes 10-20 days after exposure for spots to appear and they are infectious from 2 days before spots appear. His spots appeared last night (he only has about 10) so on that basis the other 2 will not be infectious yet.

I will nip out and be as quick as I can. None of them will be running about and I will not be going to any baby groups/clinics/play area etc.

OP posts:

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 05/12/2008 09:38

No, I wouldn't take him to a supermarket. It's irresponsible.

hazeyjane · 05/12/2008 09:39

chickenpox is transmitted by airborne particles, so I don't think keeping lo in a trolley would make her any less contagious.

Original poster

thatsnotmymonster · 05/12/2008 09:40

How is the pus going to get onto the trolley from one blister under is top?

90% of pregnant women are not at risk and the others are screened in pregnancy and given a vaccination if it is deemed necessary.

I know it is not ideal. I will probably go to small shop and leave them in the car.

DH gets home at 7pm every night

OP posts:

RubberDuck · 05/12/2008 09:41

I was exposed to chickenpox when pregnant and I wasn't immune. It was a VERY stressful time as it was late in my pregnancy and could have killed either me or my baby had I caught it. I spent three weeks in floods of tears, terrified until we were sure I was in the clear.

Please don't.

2pt4kids · 05/12/2008 09:42

Can you put one of your little ones in a sling and put your DS in the pram with the raincover over him? I would think that would stop the virus getting out wouldnt it?

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