Question about "Pox Parties"

[CityGranola]

I'm not really looking to debate whether or not this is a good idea, I've already made my mind up that it IS a good idea, for MY family. (I will keep my kids quarantined until they're not contagious.)

I need some info though...

1. How long do my kids have to play with the infected kid to make sure they have the highest chance to get it?

2. Is just playing good enough or does there need to be actual contact?

3. Anyone know the incubation period (I need pretty good accuracy on this answer.) ODS has preschool graduation Wednesday and I need to figure this all out if we can make it work or not. I also need to make sure I can take the boys to the dr. to have their CP documented if they get it. (I will go in thru the back so as not to contaminate the waiting room)

Now, we're waiting to figure out if BIL kids actually have CP or something else.

[newmum35]

The incubation period (the time from when your child is exposed to the time he will break out in spots) is generally 14 days. It can be as early as 7 days and as long as 21 days. If three weeks pass from your child's exposure, than he is in the clear.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t083400.asp

[Ophelia]

I have exposed DS 3 times (he has never had outward symptoms any of those times afterwards, so I'm not even sure if he's caught the CP yet). On each exposure, we did the lollipop exchange several times. The best time is when the infected child just starts getting the spots and maybe a day or two after that.

I caught the CP in 9th grade from the kid I was babysitting and of course there was no lollipop exchange there, so i'm not sure why it was easier for me to catch it.

For incubation period, check with the parent of the kid who has it to see how long their incubation period was. I think as a general rule, it's the same for that particular virus. So if they were exposed and then it toook 14 days for symptoms to show, it's likely it would be the same for your child. That is my understanding.

[amnesiac]

Moving to H&H.

[4babes]

We've tried four exposures with no luck - currently waiting on our fifth. One thing that seems to be true is that exchanging clothing (t-shirts or maybe poxy washcloths) seems to be a better vector than lollipops.

Good luck! And please post in your tribal area if you get them and are willing to share.

[Marnica]

For those of you that have had multiple exposures with no CP. It may be that your kids had subclinical cases. It does hgappen. If after several exposures with no spots, Id check titres...