AIBU? - Out with a child with chickenpox

jaylucy. Yes - infectious stage starts two days before the blistery spots, continues until they are "crusted" or dried over with scabs. So the infected person could be at large for those two days. However, usually a person has symptoms similar to a bad cold, runny nose, feeling poorly etc. If it is known that ch/pox is in the area then schools can advise parents, for example, to keep children at home if they have the cold-type symptoms.

jessycake - it's interesting what you say about shingles and chickenpox - our practice nurse said the same.

I know in theory that you cannot catch shingles from chicken pox but she said that she always noticed an increase in shingles cases when there was an outbreak of chicken pox in the area - perhaps it does give it a nudge especially in vulnerable people.
Certainly my MIL attributed her nasty bout of shingles to the fact that a child with obvious chickenpox sat next to her on a bus journey.
Coincidence?

If a child is poorly for whatever reason, probably the best place is home, at least for the child's sake.

I must say, though, that when DD caught mumps, a couple of friends asked if they could bring their little boys round for a 'mumps party' - this was before the MMR vaccine!

They all caught it, including DS.

You did right to blow your top. I had shingles two years ago after I had one of my grand kids to stay over the weekend. Well I just discovered when she went to bed and was putting on her pjs that she has just been diagnosed with chicken pox. I had no choice but let her stay but I blew my top. Then I had shingles and the pain was unbelievable! You did the right thing. Inconsiderate people!

I am interested to read that several believe that CP 'may' trigger shingles in susceptible people, this was definitely the case when I developed shingles a couple of years back, I'd had major surgery, was run down , plus various other health issues, I had definitely come into contact with CP a couple of weeks prior to my shingles outbreak, luckily it wasn't severe, hence me saying in my original post that I didn't want to contract shingles - am not 100% healthwise at the moment.

I definitely don't think you were BU for blowing up at your sister! In fact, not only would I have blown up, I would have left! IMO, it was selfish and thoughtless, not to mention unfair to the child!

But wait... where were the parents? Are sister and her DH raising this GC? If not, why couldn't one of the parents stay home w/ the child? Why palm GC off on your sister and BIL? If the parents couldn't stay home, did they know that sis and BIL had plans I wonder? Would they be ok w/ their taking their sick child out when they weren't feeling well? I imagine not! Sister was put in a difficult position, of course, but IMO, she should have rung/texted/emailed you to cancel or postpone the plans.

Starlady ahhhh that's another issue, both the parents went to work, the baby was in nursery, so the little lad was dumped on my sister and BIL, sis can never say no to the demands of her own children as regards babysitting in their free time (we've had a couple of words about this in the past) and yes the parents knew that sis had plans and wouldn't have minded him going out!

Interesting post re chicken pox & shingles when I was a child we went on a caravan holiday and I became quite poorly with a very painful rash. Anyway in the end my mum and dad decided to return home early and rushed me to local GP who confirmed it was shingles. He also asked mum if I had been in contact with chicken pox as shingles can be contracted through CP virus. Mum contacted caravan site and it was confirmed family who had caravan week before us one of children had CP.

I'm now looking for a precis of all the good advice on here and information.
I honestly had no idea chicken pox could kill.
I also thought it was the same virus as shingles one led to the other.
It seems both of my assumptions were wrong.
I don't think I have ever had CP. But maybe I did when very young. My brother had it more than once.
My DD had shingles when she was 9. I thought it was a disease of older people. Seems I was wrong.
Thanks GNers.

My sister contacted chicken pox when she was 32 she was so ill she was nearly admitted to hospital . they certainly should not have brought the child out x.

Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus.

The chickenpox virus stays at the base of your spine. Later it can reactivate as shingles. It's also possible for someone who has never had CP to get it from a shingles rash.

It's not terribly common, but shingles can and does occur in children. My mother had it on her feet a few months after she had chickenpox. She couldn't walk. If a child gets CP prior to age 1, there is also a greater risk of shingles in childhood.

Not everyone who has had chickenpox will get shingles in later life. However, it does sit at the base of your spine as agnurse says.

Having a lowered immune system could be a cause but why is the virus reactivated?

I had chickenpox extremely mildly as a child but have had shingles more than once.

I had my first serious bout of shingles when I was ten, the pain in my side was so severe the doctor thought I had appendicitis initially.
My next bout of shingles followed a stay in a hotel in Glasgow where I believe a child with chicken pox had been in the room before me. They did not vacate the room and we were delayed gaining entry. I have never been really well since.

I developed encephalitis and seizures due to a chickenpox infection. It can be a very big deal. The child should be kept home while infectious. Don’t be stupid and bring an infectious child out in public where there could be contact with immunosuppressed and pregnant people. I can’t believe this even has to be said.

Has anyone else noticed that the first child seems to have a milder version than the second child in a family? My granddaughters had it a few weeks ago and the second had a much worse dose than the first and I remember the same with my two sons, and other friends had the same experience.

Same here Nvella first son had it but although and not too bad but second son was very poorly in his ears ( where he still bears scar today) down his throat and had to call doctor out to him as he collapsed on floor after getting out of bed