Is this true? - Page 2

[BRmama]

My brothers and I all got it at the same time, but my older brother only had a few spots too. We were around five or six I think. Anyway it's my understanding that even with a few spots you're also immuned for life. Not sure though. I'll research it some more

Thanks you guys for the replies. Marnica I agree every disease can be a serious one depending on a lot of factors.

[Ruthla]

I had the chicken pox when I was 5, and there was no vaccine available at the time. I was itchy and uncomfortable for about a week. It was seen as an annoyance, not a danger, for normal healthy kids.

We were, however, worried about my dad, as he didn't remember having it and there were no living relatives who might have known if he'd had it as a toddler. Since he didn't get CP when my brother got them, or when I got them 2 weeks later, we assume he's immune.

IMO, the vaccines are being grossly over-used. Vaccinating a 35yo who doesn't remember having it, and is definitely being exposed, is an appropriate use of vaccines. Vaccinating toddlers, rather than letting them get it when they're school aged and the diseases are relatively mild, is IMO a very unsound policy.

[DashsMama]

Both my husband and I got the chicken pox right before our wedding. I was 31, he was 30. The worst thing that happened was we had to cancel our honeymoon to France. The actual illness was no big deal. We had a fever, some spots, a bit of itching, and then it was over. Not even a scar on either of us. This is just an anecdotal case, I know, but wanted to let people know that chicken pox as an adult is not necessarily horrible or life threatening.

Also, for those of you who have exposed your children but they did not come down with the disease, you may want to have blood work done to check if your child is immune to the disease before you choose to give them the vax. It is possible to develop an immunity to a disease without getting the full blown illness.

Just my 2 cents...

[poppan]

Originally Posted by DashsMama

Also, for those of you who have exposed your children but they did not come down with the disease, you may want to have blood work done to check if your child is immune to the disease before you choose to give them the vax. It is possible to develop an immunity to a disease without getting the full blown illness.

Totally agree, and I was going to suggest this as well for any adults who do not remember having it and are being exposed.

P.S. Very interesting that neither you nor your husband had had it in childhood, and you both got it in your 30s!

[Helen_A]

Here in the UK, it is rare to have the CP vaccine (its not a standard part of the schedule even). Children get it, some have a poor time but the vast majority have a few spots and are just fine. Its not considered a disease worth worrying about at all, unless a child has other issues (immune, skin related to prescribed steroid use mainly) already or is unfortunate to catch it at the same time as a very limited number of other diseases.

Its only considered a 'serious' illness in very extreme circumstances (less than 2% of cases overall) and most of us (vaccinating or not) just hope that they catch it young and get it over and done with.

[DashsMama]

Neither of us had had any of the common childhood illnesses of the time. Dh caught the CP from me. I have no idea where I was exposed. Many people, including the doctors we saw, were also surprised that both of us had made it to 30 without getting CP.

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by Helen_A

Here in the UK, it is rare to have the CP vaccine (its not a standard part of the schedule even). Children get it, some have a poor time but the vast majority have a few spots and are just fine. Its not considered a disease worth worrying about at all, unless a child has other issues (immune, skin related to prescribed steroid use mainly) already or is unfortunate to catch it at the same time as a very limited number of other diseases.

Its only considered a 'serious' illness in very extreme circumstances (less than 2% of cases overall) and most of us (vaccinating or not) just hope that they catch it young and get it over and done with.

Even though I've lived here for 15 years it's the same way in my country

[Crafty]

Teens and adults who get it are much more likely to have severe cases with pox inside the eyelids and in the genitalia -- ouch!

I came down with CP when I was 11 (the cp vax didn't exist then). Before that, I was completely healthy, rarely got sick.

My CP case was awful and my doctor almost hospitalized me. They were so bad on my face I couldn't wear my glasses for a week (and I NEED my glasses to see!). They were in my ears, on my eyelids, on my scalp, under my arms, in my mouth, down my throat (I couldn't eat for quite some time, the throat pain was wretched), on the outsides and insides of my genitals, in between my fingers and toes. I hallucinated on several occasions and got up and walked around the house, talking about going to get the eggs for Mrs. So-and-So (my mother was baffled, and I had no memory of getting up or talking at all). I couldn't sleep in my own bed until the sores scabbed over, because they were so big, the pressure from my body cause a LOT of discomfort and some of the sores burst (gross, I know, sorry). I slept on the couch, on top of a layer of fluffy pillows. It was NOT a fun time for me at all, and it's something I remember vividly. By the time I returned to school, I was 5'4" and 78 lbs.

Not trying to scare anyone at ALL, I'm just throwing out there that some cases do get a little wonky, especially as kids get older, and I'm a prime example of that!

[swissmom]

Chicken Pox is considered such a mild childhood disease in Switzerland that the official immunization schedule only recommends it at the age of 11 (if natural immunity hasn't been acquired yet- which is rare, because most children get chicken pox during kindergarten or primary school and it's not a big deal).

[crittersmom]

My oldest had the vaccine and his was worse than my other kids and he took the longest to get over.