Chickenpox Question*UPDATE* We have more Pox!

[disneysteve]

He is 14 years old and I am sure he had the vaccine since he goes to school.

Don't be so sure. I don't know what the law is in Illinois but the CP shot is not mandatory in most states.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Herpes Zoster

 

[Planogirl]

Wow, shingles is like a time bomb waiting to go off! Luckily, it doesn't seem to affect all that many people. Thanks Dr Steve and Pea-n-Me.

 

[Tjaleks]

Hi, I am in IL and my boys just turned 10 &11 and neither was given the booster when they were little. It wasn't mandatory at the time. They both ended up with CP at the same time when they were 3 & 4. However, about 2 or 3 years ago the school nurse was going through their medical records and sent a letter home stating that I needed to have them vaccinated or show proof they had CP in the past. So, I am guessing it is now required.

 

[SillyMe]

Chicken pox and shingles are both caused by the Herpes Zoster virus. After you recover from CP, the virus lies dormant in a nerve root and shows up years later as shingles. It got that name because the full-blown outbreak looks like roofing shingles. Generally, it is a one-time thing but I have seen people get it more than once.

So anyone who has had CP is at risk of developing shingles later in life.

The shingles vaccine isn't out yet but it is coming soon. I'll try and remember to post when I learn more about it.

So it usually is a one-time thing? My dd was in excruciating pain. I sure hope it never comes back.

 

[kristen821]

Don't be so sure. I don't know what the law is in Illinois but the CP shot is not mandatory in most states.

It is here as of about 3 or 4 years ago, but I am not sure if it was only mandatory if you were going into the lower grades or if they made in mandatory for all school age children.

 

[Buckalew11]

My mother has had the shingles 3 times. I had a mild case after this last Presidental election. (LOL, it must have stressed me out, huh?)

Often I hear of people getting shingles during times of great stress either physical stress (many have been in the hospital sick with other illness and then get the shingles) or emotional stress.
Sometimes that nerve pain can last and last. You are right Planogirl--shingles lay dormant in your system and are like a time bomb that could go off! Hopefully, they won't happen!

Silly Me, I feel bad for your DD. I hope she is doing well now.

 

[Cyndirella]

Both of my girls had the vaccination and both got the pox 2 years ago. The youngest had a somewhat mild case but the oldest was covered head to toe. But...we were vacationing at the beach when the oldest got hers so I think a day spent in the sun (before we knew she had them) made hers worse.

 

[disneymom3]

May I add on a question? Because of DSs health at the time, his ped. and I decided to wait on the CP vaccine and the plan was that if he didn't get the pox before he turned 5, to go ahead with the immunization. Well, when he was 4, his brother got them (confirmed by a doc, I just thought it was bug bites or a rash of some sort) and then a about 10 days later, DS broke out with them. We had his well child check up scheduled for during that time so I called to see if I should resched or what. They said to just bring him in the back door. When the Dr saw him he said he didn't think that was what it was or that it was extremely mild and I should think about getting him vaccinated anyway. What I am trying to figure out is if it would be better to have him have a blood test for the titer or if I should go ahead and get him vaccinated. He does have a blood test about twice a year anyway and is not freaked out by them. (Well, not very freaked out--we have been through a lot medically and he is a trooper.) Dr Steve--have an opinion? For the record I don't like his Dr and need to find a new one or go back to our old one.

 

[SillyMe]

My mother has had the shingles 3 times. I had a mild case after this last Presidental election. (LOL, it must have stressed me out, huh?)

Often I hear of people getting shingles during times of great stress either physical stress (many have been in the hospital sick with other illness and then get the shingles) or emotional stress.
Sometimes that nerve pain can last and last. You are right Planogirl--shingles lay dormant in your system and are like a time bomb that could go off! Hopefully, they won't happen!

Silly Me, I feel bad for your DD. I hope she is doing well now.

She is much better, thank you. The blisters are drying up and the pain is minimal.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

What part of Illinois are you from. My neighbor (south suburb of chicago) came down with chicken pox. He is 14 years old and I am sure he had the vaccine since he goes to school. He had a horrible case. I am wondering if it is going around Illinois. I haven't had the chicken pox and I am a little nervous.

From the Peoria area (central Illinois). I don't know about it going around the whole state of Illinois, but boy is it ever hitting our school hard. There have been kids out for two weeks, and some of these kids are the upper grade ages. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my DD11 doesn't get it. So far DS only has three but I'm driving DS crazy because I'm like this obseesed person checking his body for more pox, LOL. School's out in a couple of weeks and he's dying to get back to his friends.

I hope you don't get them since you've never had them! My mom said I only had a very, very mild case (and I don't believe she's even 100% sure that's what they were) so I must admit I'm kindof nervous also.

Good luck!

 

[disneysteve]

What I am trying to figure out is if it would be better to have him have a blood test for the titer or if I should go ahead and get him vaccinated. He does have a blood test about twice a year anyway and is not freaked out by them.

I think you could go either way, but if he is getting blood drawn anyway, then I think it makes sense to draw the titer and then vaccinate him if it comes back negative.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

disneysteve,

You don't think that I need to let the doctor know about DS having the chickenpox do you? Do you think I should at least call so they could put it in his records?

 

[disneysteve]

disneysteve,

You don't think that I need to let the doctor know about DS having the chickenpox do you? Do you think I should at least call so they could put it in his records?

I think that's a good idea, because years from now you will be asked when he had them and you won't remember. Happens all the time.