Chicken Pox

[Unregistered]

Well we spent 4th of July with some friends. I got a text this morning from them that their daughter got a crazy rash. We were supposed to go to the zoo today. Turns out it's chicken pox. I have been closed (on vacation) this whole week. So now I'm trying to decide...

I can send my kids next door to their grandma's on the off chance that they got it. My son got the vaccination but my daughter has not.

YES... I am aware they can still get chickenpox vaccine or none.


I guess I feel like I have to let them all know whether my kids are here or not right?

[crunchymama]

I would text the parents and let them know that your family has been exposed to chickenpox but as of now your children are not showing any symptoms. Let the parents make the decision whether or not to bring their kiddos. If one or both of your children start showing symptoms of pox I would probably close.

[itlw8]

nothing you can do for now 7 to 21 days is the incubation period though normally around 14 days. The child will usually get a fever then the next days break out starting normally where it is warm under clothes.

They are contagious the day before they break out. so yes you will need to tell anyone that is exposed if your child gets them. but nothing you can do about it. They will be contagious for usually 1 week or until they all dry up and flake off. some it is longer because they get a few then the next day some more and then again so it take longer for them to heal. If the other children have had a vaccine and your child is not horrible I would stay open.

[Unregistered]

Thinking I will stay open for sure. I sent out a message letting them know I will remain open. I did mention my grandmother could watch them some time however I didn't thnki that through real well. She is afraid of getting shingles and is hesitant to watch them.

****s!! If they get it they are going to be so po'ed at me since I've also been closed all week. I know I can't help it and no one knew... I just hate how some parents are so irrational about stuff. I had a drop in two weeks ago who was complaining about their sitter screwing them over by taking one day off for her nephew's funeral. I was so ticked off after she told me that I'm considering never taking her as a drop in again.

[Starburst]

The provider I used to work for was in business before the chicken pox vaccines were even available. She had a sign and told all the parents that an anonymous daycare child (or her child) had chicken pox and that they could come in or not if they choose to and many parents decided to bring their kids to expose them to it when they're young because it is much more dangerous to get chicken pox as a teen or adult than as a young child. Chances are most of the kids you have are vaccine (depending on age), if your state requires vaccination records (mine does) look into it and see how many of your DCKs have been vaccinated. If you have parents who sign wavers against vaccinations let them know that the child is at a higher risk of contracting it, they may choose to still bring their child so their child is at a lower risk of contracting it later, but they will still be at a high risk of getting shingles when they are older if they get chicken pox.

Also keep in mind that saying about chicken pox only happening once is a myth (in some cases), because the virus stays in your body forever. I had it twice (possibly 3 times).

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Oh I wish one of my dc kids would get them!! I have parents that so want their kidos to have them and they are getting harder and harder to find!!

[sly red cid]

chicken pox

Two wks before the vaccine came out our middle daughter broke out(on my birthday) then all the day care kids got them I ended up with 6 kids here with the'pox......almost lost my mind..........hubs must've gotten the message because it's the only random time in (now 30 yrs) he ever brought me flowers. this was 15 yrs ago now at least still no more random flowers either.If Grand mother has has the 'pox "the virus is still in you" and she could get shingles anyway. Good luck.

[nannyde]

Oh I wish one of my dc kids would get them!! I have parents that so want their kidos to have them and they are getting harder and harder to find!!

Why? Shingles when you are older is wicked painful

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Why? Shingles when you are older is wicked painful

Because a lot of my parents would rather have their kids get natural immunity than the shot. I am very glad my kids had them!

[nannyde]

Because a lot of my parents would rather have their kids get natural immunity than the shot. I am very glad my kids had them!

You may not understand how painful shingles is. If you haven't been through it you just can't fathom the illness. I had them a few years back and it was HORRIBLE. I wouldn't wish that on the devil.

[Meeko]

You may not understand how painful shingles is. If you haven't been through it you just can't fathom the illness. I had them a few years back and it was HORRIBLE. I wouldn't wish that on the devil.

My mother (in her 70's) had it several years ago and was in sooooo much pain...

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

You may not understand how painful shingles is. If you haven't been through it you just can't fathom the illness. I had them a few years back and it was HORRIBLE. I wouldn't wish that on the devil.

I have had shingles. I still wanted my kidlets to have chicken pox and the natural immunity instead of having to have a shot that they have no idea how long it lasts and they could end up with chicken pox as an adult! That would be worse than shingles. And are they sure that with the immunization you can't get shingles as an adult? Oh and as an adult if your that worried about shingles.. there is an immunization.

[Rachel]

You may not understand how painful shingles is. If you haven't been through it you just can't fathom the illness. I had them a few years back and it was HORRIBLE. I wouldn't wish that on the devil.

I had shingles, and I am still glad my kids got chicken pox (except the baby, he wasn't born yet when they got it).

Around here there was no correlation between who had the shot, who had a bad case, who had a mild case, and who didn't get it.

If the baby doesn't get it by the time he is 10 or so, we'll re-evaluate, but for now I'm hoping he gets natural lifelong immunity.

[SilverSabre25]

They are seeing more cases of shingles and in younger patients since the varicella vax came out. The vax doesn't seem to confer nearly as long of immunity as getting the pox does, and one key component to keeping shingles at bay is repeated exposure to the virus. With the vax, people are not getting the periodic re-exposure, which makes shingles more likely.

I'd site my source but it was years ago...not sure if I can track it down.

[daycarediva]

They are seeing more cases of shingles and in younger patients since the varicella vax came out. The vax doesn't seem to confer nearly as long of immunity as getting the pox does, and one key component to keeping shingles at bay is repeated exposure to the virus. With the vax, people are not getting the periodic re-exposure, which makes shingles more likely.

I'd site my source but it was years ago...not sure if I can track it down.

That's EXACTLY what my pediatrician says.

I know people who do Chicken Pox Parties to ATTEMPT to expose their children and themselves to the virus.