2 1/2 y/o non-cp vaxed, exposure to shingles?

[Ell-Bell]

My dad has shingles. He babysits my 2 1/2 year old today. We have been looking for a pox party, and wanting DS to get chicken pox now, before we have another baby and before he gets older, which makes it worse.

Our doctor said between 2-10 is the best time to get it, and she was supportive (encouraging, really) of our letting DH get it naturally. Yesterday my dad went to his DS about the shingles and they told him not to intentionally spread the virus to my son, cause some kids can get it really seriously. I told my dad that I wasn't listening to his doc, that mine said it's ok. He's going to get the pox sometime, why not now when he has a better chance of it not being too bad?

Then I started second guessing myself. Is it bad to get pox from someone with shingles? Is this different than just going to a pox party? My understanding is that if you haven't had pox before, you can get it from someone with shingles or cp. If you have already had cp, you can still get shingles on your own, NOT spread by someone else. But if you don't ever get cp you can get cp or shingles spread by another person.

So it seems like I should let DS share a sucker with grandpa today. Anything I'm overlooking? Maybe cp from shingles is worse than cp from cp?

Sorry to ramble, thanks in advance for any feedback!

[NatureMama3]

it's my understanding that people with shingles are LESS contagious than those with full-blown pox. I'd do it! great time frame to get it (won't remember much).

[brendaziz]

The chicken pox will not get the illness any worse from shingles or chicken pox contact. HOWEVER your ds will not catch it from a sucker. Chicken pox is an illness u catch that way (like a cold or flu) but to catch pox from shingles your child must have contact w/ the actual shingles. So if you want him to get it you need to have your ds touch the shingles and then touch his eyes or mouth. For example- my dh got shingles on his arm and my kids got it b/c they would wrestle w/ him alot and had touched it all the time (b4 we knew what it was) and then got pox as a result. I am very very greatful that they got it though- b/c they both got it at the same time so we were only out of commission about 2 weeks. I say go back over to grandpas house and let him touch it and stuff and then give him a snack to eat w/ his hands so he'll transmit it easiest. 2 is a great age I think for it. Just lots of oatmeal baths and calamine lotion and rest and fluids and cartoons and he'll be just fine! I will say though that both my boys had a hard time sleeping alone during that time even though they typically do- so my dh slept in my oldest's bed w/ him and my youngest slept in my bed w/ me until it had past. All in all it was a pretty fun illness! Oh and also if he does itch at all, or if any open up a lot, neosporin helps to not scar and also helps prevent infection. Happy Poxing!

[Ell-Bell]

Ah! That is a good point. I hadn't thought about him needing to touch it. My dad might not be a fan of that (it's on his chest and fairly painful), but I'll try!

[lovin'leo]

If I could get my kids exposed before the baby comes, I'd do it. There's a 'mumps outbreak' the next province over & I was wishing we lived there so I could get the boys exposed to it.

[mamakay]

Originally Posted by lovin'leo

If I could get my kids exposed before the baby comes, I'd do it. There's a 'mumps outbreak' the next province over & I was wishing we lived there so I could get the boys exposed to it.

The mumps vaccine sucks so bad, you're probably not going to have to go looking for mumps. I think there's a pretty good chance the virus is endemic throughout N America, but usually misdiagnosed. (even the CDC has stated that that might be the case).

To the OP, yep...people with shingles don't shed from their saliva the way you do with CP. But shingles is pretty contagious to people not immune to CP, so it's not like it he'd have to lick it or anything.