when is it ok to go back to school after chickenpox?

[imaginaryfriend]

Do you send them back when all the spots are gone? Or are scabbed over? Or a particular amount of days from onset?

Dd started being ill last Thursday and her spots are mostly all out now but she's totally stir crazy ...

I think they all need to be dry/scabbed over. It's a maximum of 10 days from onset, from what I know.

I was told that it was after they have all scabbed over and there are no new spots coming out.
Poor you and poor dd ...

My DT's had it last year. They got in on a Friday and went back to school on a Monday, over a week later. They still had scabs. From what I remember the spots came out on Day 1 and then another batch on day 3 or 5 , cant remember. Hope your DD is better soon

Thanks everyone.

Dd got very ill with a fever last Thursday and I saw the first spot on Friday, a few more yesterday and another batch today. None at all on her face so far but stacks on her genitals and other uncomfortable places like the back of her throat.

... So, we're on day 3 I guess, does that mean around another two of more spots coming out, then they start to scab over? I'm thinking she'll be at home all this week. Very possibly able to go in on Friday but I doubt it.

She might well miss the whole week, yeah. It depends how it goes. Sorry.

How are you doing, anyway? Other than the scabby horribleness?

Hi NQC, I'm doing fine. We've just moved house, or rather, flat, to a nicer bit of town than before and closer to the school dd's in nursery at that we want to get a Reception place at. And you? How's the knitting?

I haven't phoned school yet, I will tomorrow and find out if they have a policy, I was just wondering about it generally on here.

The ofsted rule is 'wait until the spots are dry'. I think.

I'm ok, we've had a pukey weekend (DS2), but DH is changing jobs, so off work for the next week and a half (ish - he has meetings to go to a lot, but will theoretically be home a lot).

Not knitting that much recently, but will get back into it soon. Have had a brief foray into doing jigsaw puzzles, but I think that has passed.

As there is a three week incubation with chickenpox after contact before spots come out DC would have already passed on plenty of infection before becoming ill. I had to send DD back to school with some spots still remaining as I had caught it from her and was unable to look after her as was quite ill.

There is also the principle of getting it while you are young as in adults it can be very nasty - brain infections and miscarriage and can be fatal.

Teachers usually have less idea of childhood illnesses than parents do (many are very young themselves)

Well, I saw the GP this morning and he said that she would be contagious until 7 days after the last spots appear which he said should be tomorrow seeing as she started getting them on Saturday. So mid-next week I think we'll go back. But yes, it's mad that during half term when we met up with tons of her friends she would have been massively contagious without our realising it. She must have picked it up from school the week before half term.

When they are scabbed over

7 days after last spots appear for air travel - I know this because we were on holiday (for a week) when DS produced spots!! I did feel sorry for all the people who were on the flight out with us... when he was very definitely contagious as spots started appearing about 36 hours later!

mb how are you? And dh?