What are my baby's chances of getting chicken pox?
May 10, 2011 2:19 PM Subscribe
In 16 days my 3 month old is due to meet my sister's two daughters for the first time. One of the girls came out in chicken pox spots yesterday. The other has not yet had chicken pox and is, so far, showing no symptoms.
3 month old is exclusively breast fed, mother has had the varicella vaccine.
Varicella vaccine is not commonly administered where sister lives and so giving it to non-poxy niece now is not an option.
I've previously been exposed. My older child is vaccinated.
Poxy niece is 2. Non-poxy niece is 5.
It's a multi-stop long planned trip. We can't postpone, though we can avoid poxy kids if we're concerned. I haven't seen poxy kids in a long time though and will be unlikely to see them again any time soon.
After visiting poxy nieces we'll be visiting lots of other people, very young and very old over the subsequent two weeks. I'd prefer not to be Typhoid Mary.
Being a new baby, close contact for 3 month old with everyone we are visiting is assumed.
What are 3 month old's chances of catching chicken pox and/or carrying it to others?
I'm assuming non-poxy niece is the concern rather than poxy niece this far out, so if non-poxy niece does not show spots over the next 16 days, is it safe to assume she's clean?
3 month old is exclusively breast fed, mother has had the varicella vaccine.
Varicella vaccine is not commonly administered where sister lives and so giving it to non-poxy niece now is not an option.
I've previously been exposed. My older child is vaccinated.
Poxy niece is 2. Non-poxy niece is 5.
It's a multi-stop long planned trip. We can't postpone, though we can avoid poxy kids if we're concerned. I haven't seen poxy kids in a long time though and will be unlikely to see them again any time soon.
After visiting poxy nieces we'll be visiting lots of other people, very young and very old over the subsequent two weeks. I'd prefer not to be Typhoid Mary.
Being a new baby, close contact for 3 month old with everyone we are visiting is assumed.
What are 3 month old's chances of catching chicken pox and/or carrying it to others?
I'm assuming non-poxy niece is the concern rather than poxy niece this far out, so if non-poxy niece does not show spots over the next 16 days, is it safe to assume she's clean?
Chicken pox is contagious two weeks before the spots break out. When my kids got it. the first kid broke out first and then the other two-and I who had never had it before-broke out two weeks later.
I would call my pediatrician if I were you. But if I were you I would not be taking a three month old anywhere near these children. But seeing as I am not a doc? Call your pediatrician.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:46 PM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
I would call my pediatrician if I were you. But if I were you I would not be taking a three month old anywhere near these children. But seeing as I am not a doc? Call your pediatrician.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:46 PM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yes, talk to your pediatrician, definitely.
It is my understanding that the incubation period for chicken pox can be up to 21 days, which is longer than the 16 day window you have. You may find some of the info. here helpful.
Also, you say you have previously been exposed, but unless you have definitely had chicken pox, or been vaccinated, you are at risk for getting it as well. My boss caught it a few years ago when she was in her fifties. I had it when I was 16. You do not want to get chicken pox as an adult, believe me. Taking Acyclovir helped lessen the intensity of it for my boss, but it would have been better not to have it at all.
posted by gudrun at 2:50 PM on May 10, 2011
It is my understanding that the incubation period for chicken pox can be up to 21 days, which is longer than the 16 day window you have. You may find some of the info. here helpful.
Also, you say you have previously been exposed, but unless you have definitely had chicken pox, or been vaccinated, you are at risk for getting it as well. My boss caught it a few years ago when she was in her fifties. I had it when I was 16. You do not want to get chicken pox as an adult, believe me. Taking Acyclovir helped lessen the intensity of it for my boss, but it would have been better not to have it at all.
posted by gudrun at 2:50 PM on May 10, 2011
Best answer: "It usually takes 14 to 16 days to get the symptoms of chickenpox after you have been around someone with the virus. This is called the incubation period."
"When someone becomes infected, the pox usually appear 10 to 21 days later. People become contagious 1 to 2 days before breaking out with pox. They remain contagious while uncrusted blisters are present."
However, the NIH continues: "Children whose mothers have had chickenpox or have received the chickenpox vaccine are not very likely to catch it before they are 1 year old."
So your baby might not likely to catch the chicken pox. I would ask your pediatrician, because it all depends on so many other factors which are specific to your family's health history.
Non-poxy sister could be getting infected over the next two weeks, show no signs of infection, visit your house, and still be a vector. If you haven't had the chicken pox, you really don't want them as an adult.
Lots of folks might hope that the unvaccinated, currently uninfected niece becomes infected now. It is usually much easier to deal with as a child under 10 years old.
posted by barnone at 3:01 PM on May 10, 2011
"When someone becomes infected, the pox usually appear 10 to 21 days later. People become contagious 1 to 2 days before breaking out with pox. They remain contagious while uncrusted blisters are present."
However, the NIH continues: "Children whose mothers have had chickenpox or have received the chickenpox vaccine are not very likely to catch it before they are 1 year old."
So your baby might not likely to catch the chicken pox. I would ask your pediatrician, because it all depends on so many other factors which are specific to your family's health history.
Non-poxy sister could be getting infected over the next two weeks, show no signs of infection, visit your house, and still be a vector. If you haven't had the chicken pox, you really don't want them as an adult.
Lots of folks might hope that the unvaccinated, currently uninfected niece becomes infected now. It is usually much easier to deal with as a child under 10 years old.
posted by barnone at 3:01 PM on May 10, 2011
Agree with barnone. When my 3-year-old came down with chicken pox (exactly 14 days after a well-baby visit to the pediatrician) I contacted the doctor's office and spoke to a nurse for advice about my then 6-month-old. Her advice? Put the baby in bed with her brother to get it over and done with. We did and she had a very mild case. This was 19 years ago though, ymmv.
posted by raisingsand at 3:45 PM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by raisingsand at 3:45 PM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Definitely ask your pediatrician. But I would err on the side of skipping the visit. My sister had chicken pox as an infant, spiked a 104 degree fever, and ended up in the hospital with serious complications. I would wait a month until everyone is well and free of symptoms, and then let them enjoy playing together.
posted by decathecting at 3:45 PM on May 10, 2011
posted by decathecting at 3:45 PM on May 10, 2011
That is really a tough call. Is there any way you an see them at the very end of your visit? That way you wouldn't spread it and the other one may cone down with it before then. Three months is so tiny and the complications can be quite serious. as much as I'd hate it, I think I'd skip seeing them this trip.
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:58 PM on May 10, 2011
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:58 PM on May 10, 2011
Oops, I erred on the two-weeks-before being contagious.
But I too want to strongly suggest that if there is any chance whatsoever an adult in your family could catch this, don't go near them. I had it as an adult and it was really really really REALLY bad. My kids were fine, not even that itchy. Me on the other hand? Worse than a really bad case of flu. Really bad.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:47 PM on May 10, 2011
But I too want to strongly suggest that if there is any chance whatsoever an adult in your family could catch this, don't go near them. I had it as an adult and it was really really really REALLY bad. My kids were fine, not even that itchy. Me on the other hand? Worse than a really bad case of flu. Really bad.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:47 PM on May 10, 2011
I would personally skip visiting sister and kids, for a couple reasons.
First, exposing a child to chicken pox to "get it over with" assumes the infection will be mild. But there's no way to predict this. My sisters had mild cases, I caught chicken pox from them and had a very serious case with a raging fever. Your child may not get chicken pox, being so young, but I'd hesitate to possibly expose a 3 month old to what I went through.
Secondly, you may have been exposed before, but did you actually have the disease? If you did, you could still get shingles as an adult. Serious chicken-pox-child me got serious shingles as an adult and it was worse. If you were exposed but didn't come down with chicken pox in the past, you could come down with chicken pox now instead. Again, worse as an adult. And you are breastfeeding! What happens if you get sick?
Third, the Typhoid Mary angle. One of my mother's siblings had measles, didn't know it. Visited pregnant woman in family before realizing. Pregnant woman got measles. Her child was born with birth defects. This is, of course, a Worst Case scenario that took place before MMR vaccines were routine. But, since you asked for my opinion, I'd skip sister's house and visit the remaining relatives.
Out of curiosity, where does sister live that non-poxy sibling couldn't get the vaccine? I am surprised it would be hard to come by anywhere in this ountry, at least.
posted by misha at 4:50 PM on May 10, 2011
First, exposing a child to chicken pox to "get it over with" assumes the infection will be mild. But there's no way to predict this. My sisters had mild cases, I caught chicken pox from them and had a very serious case with a raging fever. Your child may not get chicken pox, being so young, but I'd hesitate to possibly expose a 3 month old to what I went through.
Secondly, you may have been exposed before, but did you actually have the disease? If you did, you could still get shingles as an adult. Serious chicken-pox-child me got serious shingles as an adult and it was worse. If you were exposed but didn't come down with chicken pox in the past, you could come down with chicken pox now instead. Again, worse as an adult. And you are breastfeeding! What happens if you get sick?
Third, the Typhoid Mary angle. One of my mother's siblings had measles, didn't know it. Visited pregnant woman in family before realizing. Pregnant woman got measles. Her child was born with birth defects. This is, of course, a Worst Case scenario that took place before MMR vaccines were routine. But, since you asked for my opinion, I'd skip sister's house and visit the remaining relatives.
Out of curiosity, where does sister live that non-poxy sibling couldn't get the vaccine? I am surprised it would be hard to come by anywhere in this ountry, at least.
posted by misha at 4:50 PM on May 10, 2011
You've done a thorough job on vaccinations - well done. I'd call the doctor's office for advice, and be conservative. Chicken pox is lots of no fun.
posted by theora55 at 6:17 PM on May 10, 2011
posted by theora55 at 6:17 PM on May 10, 2011
I would say 99% chance the elder niece will get it. Very likely your baby will get it. When my kids got chicken pox, it barely slowed them down. It is a good thing to have as a kid, and a bad thing to have as an adult. But, 3 months is young, mine were 3yo and 7yo.
If they are flying, be aware that they are likely to be kicked off the plane (we were).
posted by lundman at 10:04 PM on May 10, 2011
If they are flying, be aware that they are likely to be kicked off the plane (we were).
posted by lundman at 10:04 PM on May 10, 2011
Looking at your profile, are you coming to the UK? Because if so, being the 'typhoid Mary' may be less of an issue - friend's toddler has recently had chickenpox, along with everyone else at their nursery, and none of them had any qualms about taking the kids out and about while poxy (as long as the child wasn't very feverish). I get this impression this is normal, and I've certainly seen kids out and about with chicken pox - you can probably assume that people are getting exposed at some point anyway. I would check that all the adults you're visiting have had chickenpox or the vaccine, and that none of the children have anything that might make them more vulnerable - but fundamentally in an endemic environment it's probably going to catch up with them eventually.
Only you can weigh up the risks regarding your own child, but I think that travelling is an issue to consider - some kids who aren't even all that ill with chickenpox can be very grumpy before the spots come out, which might be horrible on a long flight.
posted by Coobeastie at 6:52 AM on May 11, 2011
Only you can weigh up the risks regarding your own child, but I think that travelling is an issue to consider - some kids who aren't even all that ill with chickenpox can be very grumpy before the spots come out, which might be horrible on a long flight.
posted by Coobeastie at 6:52 AM on May 11, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks all. We did call pediatrician before AskMe, but you return calls faster. Our itinerary is set, we're in the UK going south to north up the east coast and north to south down the west coast, and we can't change when we are in their area, though I'm seriously considering finding a family that is less spread out. The good news is Poxy niece visited the doctor today and doesn't have chicken pox, so I've been tearing my hair out for nothing.
posted by IanMorr at 6:57 AM on May 11, 2011
posted by IanMorr at 6:57 AM on May 11, 2011
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posted by ambrosia at 2:38 PM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]