Chicken Pox

[azmark]

Wife called me to say that my 2 year olds day care called and said a kid in his class has the chicken pox. So we're going to keep him home because I've never had them before. Im 29.

Anyone else not have them or get them later as an adult? Left a message for my doctor and waiting for him to call back so from now until then what are some thoughts or experience in getting them late? Can I still get them?

Thank you gentlemen.

 

[letterk]

I had them fairly late, near the end of high school. They weren't bad, but hurt more than itched.

 

[Confuzius]

One of my parents friends got them (from me =\ )when I had them as a kid, he was 29. Apparently it was just about the worst thing imaginable.

 

[Leche]

Chicken Pox is worse the older you get. A big problem is chicken pox is becoming exceedingly rare and the cases physicians do see are typically worse than in the past. No more chicken pox parties.

 

[kvanhorn]

No worries fella! Get Vaccinated.

The varicella vaccine is a shot that can prevent chickenpox. It is called varicella because the varicella virus causes chickenpox. Up to 90% of people who receive the vaccine will not get chickenpox. People who get chickenpox after having the vaccine have a milder form of the disease.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/vaccines/193.html
or
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/default.htm

I had "the Pox" as a 26 year old and just avoided the hospital. Barely. It can be pretty bad if you're an adult.

I was already in the medical field and SHOULD have known enough to get vaccinated back then... and while I was lying in pain in bed you can imagine how stupid I felt. That's right: pain. What is "itchy" as a kid is "very painful" as an adult.

Call your doc (or local public health). Stop in for 10 minutes and get the shot. You won't even need to see the doc probably, just the nurse. Go on with your life.

(Get your kids vaccinated too and you won't even need to pull them out of school... the sick kid is already isolated at home and you can rest assured that your little tyke has an incredibly low liklihood of getting it. In fact, your kid might already BE vaccinated. It's part of the normal public health reccomendations for all kids to get at age 1.)

 

[azmark]

No worries fella! Get Vaccinated.

The varicella vaccine is a shot that can prevent chickenpox. It is called varicella because the varicella virus causes chickenpox. Up to 90% of people who receive the vaccine will not get chickenpox. People who get chickenpox after having the vaccine have a milder form of the disease.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/vaccines/193.html
or
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/default.htm

I had "the Pox" as a 26 year old and just avoided the hospital. Barely. It can be pretty bad if you're an adult.

I was already in the medical field and SHOULD have known enough to get vaccinated back then... and while I was lying in pain in bed you can imagine how stupid I felt. That's right: pain. What is "itchy" as a kid is "very painful" as an adult.

Call your doc. Stop in for 10 minutes and get the shot. Go on with your life.

(Get your kids vaccinated too and you won't even need to pull them out of school... the sick kid is already isolated at home and you can rest assured that your little tyke has an incredibly low liklihood of getting it. In fact, your kid might already BE vaccinated. It's part of the normal public health reccomendations for all kids to get at age 1.)

Very reassuring. Im sure my kids are vaccinated since they are up to date. I can't remember the last time I've been to see a doctor so I'll see what she tells me when I here back from the doctors.

Thanks!

 

[Robxcarlson]

I'm 35 and never had the chicken pox either. I have a two year old who currently isn't in daycare, nor has he yet had the vaccine. My wife has been asking me to get the vaccine. I should do this soon, I guess.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I had it right after I turned 30. It was brutal.

 

[David in Boston]

I had it right after I turned 30. It was brutal.

Got it when I was 21 while in the Air Force stationed in England.

When I came in to see the Doc for a follow up visit he looked at me and said, "Oh my God".

As an adult it is brutal.

 

[Swampfox]

I had a bad case when I was a kid. The pox was everywhere, my feet, ears, inside my mouth. I have a couple of scars from that nightmare. I think I was 6. As bad as that was, I would hate to know how bad it is for an adult.

 

[Wendy]

Get the vaccine. It is horrible as an adult to get chicken pox.

 

[Unknownsoldier]

As an adult not only is the infection itself worse, but it can also cause sterility in men, IIRC birth problems in women and has the potential to give you shingles on and off for the rest of your life.... oh and it scars LF.....

Bad news is, if a kid in your kids class has the symptoms, chances are your son has already been exposed to the virus (contagion happens before the visible symptoms occur), and therefore you may have already got it.... and it's incubating, however, in some people, they are naturally immune, if your parnets have had it, chances are you could either not get it or get it mildly it differs between person.

There has also been debate about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for CP.... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/3643888/Chickenpox-vaccine-is-bad-for-children.html

Tom

 

[azmark]

Thanks for the replies. I've heard more in a few hours from you guys than my doctor 2 miles down the road.

 

[Swampfox]

Thanks for the replies. I've heard more in a few hours from you guys than my doctor 2 miles down the road.

I'm not a doctor, but I pretend to be one on the internet.

 

[Mr. O]

I had the chicken pox my freshman year in high school. I remember it itched badly. I still carry a couple pox scars from it. One in particular isn't completely flat on my skin and is perfect size from the pox. It is true the older you get, the worse it is. If you do get it buy some calamine lotion to help subside the itch. And whatever you do, resist the urge to scratch; you'll only make it worse. Good luck to ya.

 

[moonshine44]

Hot oatmeal baths help. Makes the itching subside somewhat. But if you have the choice between having them and not having them, I vote for not having them. I had 'em when I was 31, and it wasn't the most entertaining week I ever spent. I think I lost 15 pounds that week, because eating was almost impossible due to having them in my mouth...

 

[raisindot]

I think the vaccines are relatively new--only around within the last 10-15 years or so. Most people my age (tail-end boomers) had them when they were kids.

Nowadays, many school districts require kids to get chicken pox vaccines. The only problem is that it is still unknown how long the vaccine lasts and when or if booster shots are needed.

What this means is, sometime when the first generation of kids born in the mid 1990s graduate from college, and, being young, never see a doctor and therefore never get a booster shot, we're going to see large clusters of adult chicken pox starting around 2015 or so.

Jeff in Boston

 

[SRock]

My Grandfather is 86 and he never got them. Every one of his kids and grandkids has had it and he is just immune. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones.

 

[Yorkie]

Shingles is the one to look out for..

 

[Emmett]

I think the vaccines are relatively new--only around within the last 10-15 years or so. Most people my age (tail-end boomers) had them when they were kids.

Nowadays, many school districts require kids to get chicken pox vaccines. The only problem is that it is still unknown how long the vaccine lasts and when or if booster shots are needed.

What this means is, sometime when the first generation of kids born in the mid 1990s graduate from college, and, being young, never see a doctor and therefore never get a booster shot, we're going to see large clusters of adult chicken pox starting around 2015 or so.

Jeff in Boston

Yes, at 27 I was in my teens when they started recommending the vaccine (I had it at 13, a very mild case). I think most kids now have it, but some doctors are already recommending boosters.