[ThreeBananas]

Hi,
I have 4 kids, they have all been vaccinated. There is chickenpox going around their school and one of my boys came out in spots (diagnosed as chickenpox by a dr) 18 days ago. I kept him home for a week.

Today another one has come out in spots. As they are infectious 2 days before the spots appear, today is day 18 of the (up to) 21 day incubation period of contact with my first son.

What I am wondering is whether my other 2 kids will be in the clear after Friday (day 21) or whether the 21 day incubation starts again now with my second child's illness?

I am obviously most concerned about Christmas Day where there will be adults and a baby who have not had chickenpox. I am hoping the one that has it now will be not contagious by then too- 7 days to go!

Bloody chickenpox grrrr!

I will consult with a doctor on Thursday but just wondering whether anyone had any knowledge/experience in this area.

Thanks!

[~~~]

Would a blood test show if they were already infectious (but before spots appear etc)?

[AllegraM]

No advice but must wanted to say I feel your pain. DS came out in spots last Friday and while he will be non-infectious at Christmas, I feel bad when I think of all the places I went with him in the two day pre-spots infectious period. This included lining up with other kids and babies for santa photos, plus two playdates with babies under 18 months. I have let the playdate mums know but can't do anything about the strangers in the santa line.

[KRT]

Try calling your state's MCH line. They were really helpful when DS was potentially exposed at daycare with working out the incubation period and whether other kids we'd been in contact with were at risk.

[Bek+3]

I don't know the logistics but my DS had Chicken Pox at his second Christmas (1 year 2 weeks old). From memory, by the time the spots are dry, they are no longer contagious but don't quote me.

The worst thing about it was the I didn't get a Santa photo which I really wanted because his first Christmas he spent in hospital so obviously I didn't have one then either. If i'd put him on Santa's lap, every kid after him would have caught it!! The good thing was that he avoided the chicken pox immunisation!!

[SeaPrincess]

When DS1 (vaccinated) got chicken pox at kindy, he came out I spots on Thursday and they had fully crusted over by the following Monday and his teacher was happy to have him at school. DH and DD (both unvaccinated) came down with it on the same day just over 2 weeks later.

DS2 and I both didn't get it. He was vaccinated and I had it as a child.

This post has been edited by SeaPrincess: 18/12/2012, 09:04 PM

[Holidayromp]

I have natural immunity to chicken pox so no issue here. DD1, DD2 and DS have all been vacinated. DH had them as a kid.

Don't feel bad about who you may have infected because by the time the spots come out the most infectious period has passed. There is no way you would have known.

[Beags]

What I am wondering is whether my other 2 kids will be in the clear after Friday (day 21) or whether the 21 day incubation starts again now with my second child's illness?

I am obviously most concerned about Christmas Day where there will be adults and a baby who have not had chickenpox. I am hoping the one that has it now will be not contagious by then too- 7 days to go!
[/quote]

If your other 2 kids don't get it from your first infected child, then technically they could get it from your second child, however it's quite contagious and therefore I would think that if they escaped it the first time they would be in the clear due to having sufficient immunity from the vaccine, but no guarantees. The spots are full of virus particles until they crust over, so be careful! Due to being vaccinated they should have only mild cases and will hopefully recover quickly, for your sake and theirs!

[ZombieMum]

Incubation period starts again, but they could come out with them at any minute.


About 13 years ago it went right through my DD's creche (before vaccination) and after 2 months, I thought DD was in the clear. She finally came down with them - I think she was the last one at creche to catch them.

A couple of years ago I had my other 3 kids come down with chicken pox - they all caught them off class mates. I think there was about 3 or 4 days between child 1 and child 3 coming out in spots.

[erindiv]

It's going around here too, apparently. DD had them just recently but amazingly DS didn't. Have now heard of a few cases in my friends' kids.

I was told that once they crust over they're no longer contagious.

21 day incubation starts from the time the most recent one has become spotty. So every time a new case appears, if you have other kids who haven't had it yet, they are potentially contagious for the next few weeks. Then that starts over if one catches it and not another, etc etc.

I feel for you OP I was glad DD's cleared up.

edit to add: DD is vaccinated but she still had a horrific case, she was absolutely covered on both arms and legs.

This post has been edited by erindiv: 18/12/2012, 10:07 PM