Low titre on pox-- would it help to get exposed again?

[USAmma]

I thought maybe someone could answer this-- last year I got my titres done and I am still immune to varicella, but it's on the very low end of positive. If it was any lower I would not be considered immune. I got pox 32 years ago.

Recently a friend's children came down with it and it's still active. Would it benefit me to go and love on her kids and expose myself to it? Would it make my immune system stronger, or would it make me sick again with the full blown pox? I'm in nursing school and can't afford to get sick, but I don't mind feeling a little tired if my body needs to build up the immune system more.

What do you think?

[serenbat]

there is no 100% you would get them- you could get shingles instead

[azdesertrn]

Exposure *should* help your immunity and give it a boost. But, if your titres are borderline there is always a chance you could get chicken pox again. I would probably go for it and then get plenty of rest and eat well so my immune system could do its thing.

Have your kids had chicken pox or have you had exposure to it in the last few years? I might be more hesitant to re-expose if you had had recent exposure already and it didn't help your titre.

[azdesertrn]

And my understanding is that exposure to chicken pox is thought to reduce your risk for shingles by keeping your immunity higher.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by serenbat

there is no 100% you would get them- you could get shingles instead

Shingles is the reemergence of the virus that is dormant in your body, it is not a separate illness. Lack of exposure to the virus can result in shingles.

[amnesiac]

Since this is about illness exposure rather than vaccine I'm moving to H&H.

[serenbat]

Many children have slight cases of CP and come down with bad cases of shingles- I know one that was exposed to CP often and broke out with shingles- was also vaced.