Would you take your chickenpox children to the supermarket?

[Holymoly321]

DS's 3 and 1 have chickenpox - DS2 has it all over his face and body and DS1 just his body. The spots came up on Friday and most of them are scabbed over. I need to get out of the house and get some food in - and some calpol! Can I take them to the supermarket? Would you?

info For Jux, You cannot get shingles from chickenpox.
You can catch chickenpox from shingles.
Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus (Varicalla Zoster).
Otherwise I agree with the above poster.

My mum had 4 of us with chicken pox. Each had it 6 weeks after the other. She had to stay at home for 6 months.

Please don't go.
It is really unfair on other people for all the reasons given below.

I have confess it does make me - when people on these threads say "do an online shop" - which is all very well, but if you need stuff "today" having to wait until tomorrow/the day after (or at this time of year god knows when) it doesn't really help does it

No, no, no. I caught cp at 13 - second time I'd had it - ended up very sick in hospital for two weeks.

Thing is, AFAIK you are most contagious before the spots even come out - before you even know you have it. What happens then? Do you avoid going out if you think you might have been in contact with someone with CP?
I'm now wondering as I'm pregnant and the thought hadn't occurred to me before.

No, because my next door neighbour's child would be hospitalised if she contracted chickenpox. And she is the last person you would guess would be affected (young, healthy-looking, not obviously ill). So there could be any number of people like her next to me in a supermarket queue.

WOw, didn't think this would be such a hot topic. I went to the garage yesterday and the boys were in the car - where I kept a close eye on them I might add. HAve not been out with them and have cancelled all other engagements - the boys have missed all the xmas parties at nursery / tots groups but I don't want to put others at risk. Hopefully they will not be contagious next week as we all really want to see family and friends over xmas

JenAT, thanks for the info - I have been beguiled by 'received wisdom'.

How do you get shingles then?

No no no

Not everyone wants their child to catch it, contrary to popular belief.

Having just had a very scary week being exposed to chickenpox at 38 weeks pregnant I would say please don't. Luckily for me I was immune but it was still a very stressful 4 days waiting for the results of my blood test.

Can I be among the nos? I have an autoimmune disease which may be triggered by chicenpox exposure - this can mean some pretty deadly events, like total loss of sight. Also people on chemothherapy are very vulnerable.

No I wouldn't unless essential.

I did send DD back to Pre-school covered in spots but they backed up what my GP had said, that it was fine if all had scabbed.
I have photos of her first sports day covered in spots!

No. Not fair if a pregnant mum catches it or new baby, elderly person.

CP can be very dangerous.