Umm, so how contagious is chicken pox?

[whatlifestylechoice]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant.

I had to go the pharmacy yesterday and was standing in line for about five minutes behind a mother and her child.
I didn't pay them any attention until the mother was talking to the pharmacist and I heard her say "chicken pox". When I looked, the child had lots of vivid red spots and was scratching.

Please tell me I'm worrying about nothing. I can't remember ever having had CP before and my parents are away so I can't ask them if I've had it.

Chicken pox is highly contagious but spread by coughs, sneezes and coming into contact with the fluid from spots. So I think you will be OK if you were just stood behind the child and they didn't splutter over you or give you a hug. It's not like you were down at their level, chatting to them.

Although this is a reminder why parents should avoid taking chicken poxy children out and about - you never know who you might come into contact with and how you might be compromising their health.

Thanks Persp

I don't think I was close enough to the child in that case. I hope not anyway. I zoned out a bit, I have to admit.

I think by the time the spots are on show that the contagious part is over? I maybe wrong though

If you are 28 wks preg you have at least had your booking bloods done etc? One of the things they test for is immunity to chickenpox.

Tbh at this stage in preg I think chickenpox is not as much of a risk, it's the first few months and then again at the very end of pregnancy that it is a risk for baby?

If you are worried call your midwife they can get your immunity tested if it hasn't been and I think there are anti virals they can give you if you are at risk?

No sepa they are contagious until all spots have stabbed over. Though most contagious the day before spots and in the first few days of the infection.

Op context your gp or midwife as they can test and give you a treatment if it's within ten days of the exposure. The nhs pages advice is very good. It says close contact ie face to face contact or being in a room with someone for more than 15mins

The vast majority of peoole are immune Btw even if they don't remember having it as a child.

So I should be ok then?

I can't see in my notes if they've tested me for CP immunity. (I'm not in the UK.) But I'm seeing my midwife on monday morning anyway, so I'll ask her then.

Thanks for the reassurance, all.

They don't check CP immunity as a matter of course. I was tested as had never had it as a child and there was an outbreak at school. Turns out I was already immune, as most adults have been exposed to it even if they never caught it. Ask your midwife for a test.

Don't kiss or share food. I think you'll be ok.

If you have had it before all is fine. I looked after a child at 38 weeks who got spots the following day.

Contacted midwife and above is what she said.

Good luck