chicken pox

my 11 months old's childcare teacher informed me there's been a case of chicken pox in the nursery room and he's been exposed. Any idea how long it takes to show if he has it? He's been home since Thursday and so signs yet. Should I stay away from coffee group next Tuesday? Would hate to infect other kids if he does have it...

I thought it was 10-21 days but basically the same. They are contagious until the spots scab over & that is every last one of them scabs over. Some can scab over while others are still popping out.

He might not actually contract them even if he's been exposed. I tried to get Alia infected so many times when she was little. She was at home-based care with the carer's son having a bad case and still didn't get them.

I would rather my child contact them when they are younger as they don't feel the stigma of the spots like an older child does.

Check with the Mum's in the coffee group, they might be happy to have you guys there & get CP over & done with early.

7-21 days according to a poster at the hospital. Might pay to avoid things for awhile.

Because it is one of those diseases that you will probally get sometime in your life regardless, and is far better to get it as a child.
Also it used to be done so that all the kids in the neighbourhood got it at once so it was over and done with.
Especially if you are a working parent, If you child was exposed to it at a school age they would need to take alot of time off.

Edited by Kellie

summerlamb wrote: Ok, this isn't meant as a critical question and I don't have children yet so is probably why I don't get it, but I've never understood why people try and get their children to catch chicken pox, wouldn't you want to try and keep your kids away from diseases like that?   Again, not a criticism, I've heard many many people say the same thing and I'm just wondering why.

Because in 99.99% of the population who get CP as children it's nothing but an annoyance. CP can be very serious as an adult and I would much prefer my kids to have them when they are kids than be like FIL who has NEVER had them as far as we know and he's pushing 70 now so a heck of a lot more dangerous if he were to catch them.

If it makes the OP feel any better it took at least FOUR previous exposures before DS1 finally got them. DS2 on the other hand got them first time out, when he was 11 weeks old, courtesy of big bro. DS1 never would have known he had them as he only had about 10 spots, though DS2's dose was about as bad as you can get, covered head to foot and everywhere in between. LOL Neither was that ill, in fact I think DS1 had one itchy day and that's it. I am sooooo glad they are over and done with and thankful I was on ML at the time as DS1 couldn't go to day care, though he only had them for about 5 days as I would have had an unsympathetic one had I needed time off if trying to negotiate my return to work was anything to go by (which is why I ended up quitting). We went into self imposed isolation and had it not been 3 weeks out from Christmas I had a couple of mums who said they would have been happy to play with the boys in the hopes of getting 'the pox'.

I also have another friend whose son was exposed and he didn't get them. I sent an email round letting people know that at least DS1 had them (so far) so they could decided if they wanted to be exposed or not........all of them stayed away. LOL Though like I said, think it was because it was Christmastime more than anything.

Yep, i had them when i was 25 and it was hideous and i have some bad scars. Will try and see if Kaelin can get them while shes little enough to keep mittens on her

Oh right, I didn't realise it was so much more dangerous when you were a adult! Thanks for answering my silly questions

Just a quick note to say keep an eye out for the October issue of OHbaby! Magazine (out Oct 12), we have compiled a collection of useful pox-busting products

we had 20 kids at DC present out of 70!!! most off with chicken pox...most back now - some took 2 weeks - but 2nd lot are now starting to fall down with them....mine missed out but she had scarlett fever at time so maybe anitbiotics helped avoid the pox or something?

White vinegar dabbed directly onto the scabs is good to dry them up and relieve itchiness.