chicken pox and the post eczema child

[ikesmom]

My older DS is 10 and just showed me chicken pox sores on his stomach and back.
I am not really worried about him. I am kinda a little nervous for my lil guy that is 4 yrs old though. He had HORRIBLE eczema as a baby up to the age of 2..when we found out he had a peanut allergy and removed every product trace ect.

The pediatrician's office said to never let him get the varciella vaccine. He didn't finish out his other shots..and I decided we were done with vax. Dh had shingles at the end of Dec last year. He pretty much stayed in bed and away from everyone for the most part. No problems for lil ds or anyone else at home.

Lil ds 's skin has been great. He will occasionally get dry skin or flakes in his hair , but nothing to blink at.

Anyone have their eczema dc get the pox? What was your experience?

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by ikesmom

The pediatrician's office said to never let him get the varciella vaccine.

Was this because of the eczema, or because of the peanut allergy, or...?

We're not planning on doing the vaccine anyway, but I'm really curious about the connection. Hoping to get DD some natural pox someday...

[nicole_marie]

There are similar warnings about the smallpox vaccine (which can spread internally and cause a lethal infection). I wonder if the same concerns exist for the varicella vaccine?

http://www.nationaleczema.org/living/smallpox/

[ikesmom]

It was because of his eczema . I went in a few times for conjunctivitis and minor things and they would always ask if he was "up to date?" on his shots and I would just say yes. It was always a different Dr. since his reg ped. was always busy. Then the last time we went the Dr. said is he "up to date?" and I said '"yeah and.. they told me never to get the Varciella". He said "what about the other ones?" and I said "what do you mean?" and he said "did they tell you to avoid any other shots?" I said "no ..were good" and proceeded to the current health issue. I don't' know what he meant. My first ds was fully vax, circ, ect. Luckily my kids have been really healthy. My older ds hasn't been to the dr. in 4 yrs. They had dental visits and that is about it.

I will say that older ds had developmental issues..has LD's , but is doing pretty good. I don't know why..I could blame vax if I knew ..but I know people who are non vax and they have various dx's .

[nicole_marie]

Originally Posted by ikesmom

It was because of his eczema .

That's so interesting. The link I shared is really interesting regarding eczema and the smallpox vaccine. It mentions that the vaccine, in patients with eczema, can cause a fatal infection.

My son has chronic, severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) and he has had a ton of blood tests and his immune levels are elevated. We don't vax, but my son received vax prior to his adoption into our family @ 3 months old.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I swear how can we as parents know what to do when the dr's dont : My dd had severe eczema (still deals with mild) and her ped insisted that she get the cp vax because if she didnt then she would end up in the hospital so I caved and got it when I went in never intending to.

Turns out that is one of the 3 she should never have gotten due to her egg allergy but at the time I didnt know about that one. That was the day she had a near ana reaction.

So many things I would go back and change if I had the chance.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by nicole_marie

There are similar warnings about the smallpox vaccine (which can spread internally and cause a lethal infection). I wonder if the same concerns exist for the varicella vaccine?

http://www.nationaleczema.org/living/smallpox/

That's interesting. But it sounds like (if I'm reading it correctly) that the danger is if you have active eczema- like if the virus gets into an open lesion it can cause a much more severe rash.

Also, this is specific to the vaccine. But they don't mention any dangers of the natural virus in relation to eczema, and I would guess that the natural virus is a completely different story than a vaccine (in regard to how your body processes it.)

I am still hoping that someone will chime in who's had a natural exposure after having eczema. I'm really curious if it would be a more severe case, or if any difference was noticed at all.

[nicole_marie]

I think it's because smallpox is a live vaccine? Is the chicken pox vaccine also live?

AD may carry a lifetime risk since, in past vaccination programs, even people with normal skin but a history of eczema in childhood sometimes developed eczema vaccinatum.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by nicole_marie

AD may carry a lifetime risk since, in past vaccination programs, even people with normal skin but a history of eczema in childhood sometimes developed eczema vaccinatum.

Well, that's a little confusing because in their first link they say:

If the live virus from the vaccine site gets into broken skin, it can cause a rash in that area. Most people recover from the rash with treatment, but in those with eczema it can be quite severe, sometimes leading to scarring or even death.

Still though- I don't believe that a natural disease is going to cause the same kind of reaction as a vaccine, eczema or not.

[ikesmom]

Thank you both for responding to my post. I have read that info about the small pox a long time ago when we were in the trenches of misery and just read it again. I think we are going to be fine and I have just took it as an opportunity to baby both of the boys with food, games, movies, and attention.

QUOTE/MCatLvrMom2A&X I swear how can we as parents know what to do when the dr's dont : My dd had severe eczema (still deals with mild) and her ped insisted that she get the cp vax because if she didnt then she would end up in the hospital so I caved and got it when I went in never intending to.

Turns out that is one of the 3 she should never have gotten due to her egg allergy but at the time I didnt know about that one. That was the day she had a near ana reaction.

So many things I would go back and change if I had the chance. /QUOTE

Don' blame yourself MCatLvrmom2AandX..there are so many conflicting opinions about everything and you were trying to do the best. I went through the elimination diet while breastfeeding my youngest. We thought he was allergic to milk at first, but then after months of eliminating we ended up not finding anything. Later- I did the SCD diet thinking it was leaky gut and ate a lot of almonds..(A LOT) and I felt really bad when the allergist said stay away from all tree nuts.