Question About Chicken Pox

If your daughter has had it, she should be fine.
If she hasn't then she would be acceptable to the virus, but I think that you are only contagious once the spots show up.
I'm not a nurse, but you could probably google it!
I hope your granddaughter feels better soon.

Only my youngest has had the Vaccine, both of my older boys(16 & 14) had them when they were 4 & 3. The 4 year old, who was the second to get them, had them really bad.

My good friend's kids (all 3 of them) recently had chicken pox and all 3 had previously been vaccinated. It wasn't immediately after being vaccinated, but they did get it. She was told that they were only contagious while they had visible lesions, but that there was a 21-day incubation periods - meaning they could pick up and carry the virus for up to 21 days before they actually broke out and became contagious. So my understanding is that your daughter shouldn't be able to pass on the virus unless she has the chicken pox and has lesions. But I'd check just in case!

On another note, personally, I think the more childhood illnesses a kid gets, the stronger their immune system becomes!! (this is not to say that I am against vaccinating your kids - I'm definitely all for that!!). But....your body has to fight off antigens in order to build antibodies!!! Good luck and I hope the little one is feeling better soon.

ZaCola3 said:

but I think that you are only contagious once the spots show up.

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Actually, you are the most contagious before the spots show up, before you even realize you have chicken pox. You remain contagious until the last sore is healed over. You're not as contagious in those end stages, but you still are. I know this all too well because I did plenty of research when I was covered from head to toe in chicken pox as an adult.

She definitely should let her work know she's been exposed.

You probably should let everyone know becuase it can be bad for adults. I remember having it when I was a kid. The poor baby is gonna be miserable, but it's not as mean to kids as adults. Poor little thing, I'm sorry she has it. (((HUGS)))

Actually, you are the most contagious before the spots show up, before you even realize you have chicken pox. You remain contagious until the last sore is healed over. You're not as contagious in those end stages, but you still are. I know this all too well because I did plenty of research when I was covered from head to toe in chicken pox as an adult.

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Ditto what Joan said, even the part about having it as an adult. It's BAD, and can kill elderly people, so best not to take chances!

My aunt was told (when her son got chicken pox and Mason isn't allowed to be exposed at all because it could kill him because of the chemo and his low immune system) that SHE wouldn't be carrying the virus as long as she didn't touch open sores on her sons body and if she DID, to make sure to wash really well and she'd be fine to see my son. That's what she was told by a doctor. But I believe she'd already had chicken pox, so maybe that's why.

I would think that would be the case, Bree. The important factor being absolutely certain you cannot get it yourself, because if you get it you will spread the virus before you know you have it.

I do think it's very important she let her work know so the medical staff is aware and can advise on what to do. I know when I was dealing with Children's Hospital on a regular basis they always asked if you'd been exposed to chicken pox in the last X weeks (I think 2 or 3 weeks) every time you came in.

DawnMarch said:

Ditto what Joan said, even the part about having it as an adult. It's BAD, and can kill elderly people, so best not to take chances!

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It was one of the most horrible months of my life. Yes, I had it for a good month. So different than how it is for most kids. The fever I had just before the sores broke out was insane, and the first week I can't even believe how sick I was. And sore! My body felt like it was run over by a bus, then the bus backed up and hit me again several times!

The thing with working with the elderly is that even if they've had chicken pox, people who've had it can get shingles, which most commonly hits you when your body is stressed &/or immune compromised. I know shingles is contagious in the sense it can cause chicken pox. I don't think it works the other way around, but it's something to check into and ask the medical staff about.

Nonna2Dreja said:

She claimed that most elderly people have already had them....

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Wow, what an incredibly irresponsible claim. Sure most have, but if one hasn't, getting it at this point could literally mean their death. As an adult whose life was put on hold for a month because of adult chicken pox, my first thought is I want to punch her in the face, my second thought is, I hope she's more responsible in how she treats and advises when it comes to the kids that are her own patients.

It's good you still advised your daughter to let her work know. If your she has already had them, I think it's unlikely she could spread them to her work, but better safe than sorry.