just exposed ds to Chicken Pox... Couple of questoins

[mammom]

DS played with a little guy yesterday who was on day five of his outbreak (he broke out Sunday and yesterday was Friday - was it considered day six?) I think the little guy still had some new pox, but most were scabbed over.

So here are my questions:

1) Do you think he was still contagious?

2) If other kids who played with the little guy's brother when he was sick two weeks before end up with CP, is it a bad thing to expose my ds again? I read in the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Mothering that it's not a good idea to expose kids twice because he/she could get a more severe reaction but I'm afraid the little guy yesterday wasn't contagious enough! (is there such thing as "contagious enough"?? )

3) The incubation period can be as low as 7 days? Is that correct? And as long as 21? And the contagious period starts as early as two days before onset of pox? Is the contagious period marked with anything like a fever so you know to stay away from people who shouldn't get sick with it (pregnant moms, little babes, etc.)? Or does it just spring up on you?

It's a lot more than three questions! Sorry - I hope these are questions that can help other moms too!

Oh, and I'll be sure to share the pox with you if we get them!

[Gitti]

http://www.alternative-doctor.com/va...1varicella.htm

http://www.*********/vaccines/mendels...#CHICKEN%20POX

[mammom]

The first site says, "The infectious period starts one day before the rash appears and continues until the scabs fall off..."

The second says, "the disease is contagious for about two weeks, beginning two days after the rash appears."

Hmm. The hilarious thing is that I just told my neighbor, who has a three-year-old and a 16-month-old, that I exposed ds and she said, "ooh, keep away from us because the vaccine doesn't always work!" I asked her why she injected her babies with poison if it doesn't work?! She said, "I know, I know..." DUH!! What the heck!

And what about exposing him again in a few days if some other kiddos turn up sick... Do you think it would be a bad thing?

Thanks for your help!