Has anyone dealt with chicken pox with their babies?

[JamieL]

My 3 yo brought a note home from school today saying that someone in his class has chicken pox. Now, I'm all for him getting them. I want my kids to have them young. The problem is I also have a 7 month old and I'm worried that that would be too young. Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Does anyone know how bad it is for an infant to get chicken pox? Any advice or insight would help me. Thanks so much!

[Ceres]

My friend's baby had them at nine monthes and while she was quite miserable with them, she didnt get alarmingly sick either. Are you still nursning the seven month old?
Also, it seems if kids catch the disease from an outsider, rather than a sibling, they get a lesser case of it, so you may want to expose the baby at the same source the three year old was exposed so they both have it at once.

[HetHert]

My friend's baby had them at nine monthes and while she was quite miserable with them, she didnt get alarmingly sick either. Are you still nursning the seven month old?
Also, it seems if kids catch the disease from an outsider, rather than a sibling, they get a lesser case of it, so you may want to expose the baby at the same source the three year old was exposed so they both have it at once.

I just watched a SouthPark episode where the mothers had their sons go and spend the night at one of the friends houses so they would all get Chicken Pox so they wouldn't get it even later in life because its more of a detriment to a person to deal with it when one is older. I had to laugh because the mothers all sat around a table conspiring to have their sons contract the virus for their own good.

I understand the rationale yet I still fell squinchy about purposefully getting a child sick.

[VelvetBlade]

I had 4 at home with them at once. The youngest was about 7 or 8 months old at the time. Oatmeal baths were my best friend.....lol

~VB

[WitchOfEndor]

My Katie,now 11 years old had chicken pox at 3 months old. Ugh! Was I freaked out, I was a first time mom & had never had chicken pox. Katie did'nt suffer too much, oatmeal baths & Calamine Lotion helped alot & Benydryl helped with the itching. I took a make up brush & painted her with the Calamine Lotion. Warm Baths bring out the pox faster just have to be watchful with the scratching, don't want loads of pox scars. Of course I then caught them at 24 years old & was miserable!!

[Ceres]

I just watched a SouthPark episode where the mothers had their sons go and spend the night at one of the friends houses so they would all get Chicken Pox so they wouldn't get it even later in life because its more of a detriment to a person to deal with it when one is older. I had to laugh because the mothers all sat around a table conspiring to have their sons contract the virus for their own good.

I understand the rationale yet I still fell squinchy about purposefully getting a child sick.

We mothers can be so ruthless. :hehehehe: These days one really has no choice but to work at it because the chickenpox germs arent as readily available now there is a half assed vaccine out. I was really worried that my daughter would hit puberty and we would have had to get her immunized so that she wasnt getting it too late. We were all very releived when they all got it at the same time.

[Thunder]

We mothers can be so ruthless. :hehehehe: These days one really has no choice but to work at it because the chickenpox germs arent as readily available now there is a half assed vaccine out. I was really worried that my daughter would hit puberty and we would have had to get her immunized so that she wasnt getting it too late. We were all very releived when they all got it at the same time.

Why the dismissal of vaccines?

[SilverSeraphim]

Why the dismissal of vaccines?

The vaccine is relatively new, so long term effects haven't really been ascertained. Besides, chickenpox is for the most part nothing more than an irritating condition. It rarely turns into something serious in children. So why put them through the hassle of a shot?

[JamieL]

thanks all so much! _pounce_ There wouldn't be a way for me to get my children around the original kid with chicken pox. (does that make sense?) He's one of my 3 year old's schoolmates.

I also am not nursing.

Personally, from what i've hard, I don't want to get my children the chicken pox vaccine. From what I've been told its only available up to a certain age and then you can't have it anymore. Then they run the risk of getting it at an older age which I know is horrible. (it happened to my step dad). Just my opinion. I've only heard people on another forum debate it, so I'm just going off the information there.

thanks again. We'll see how things go. My oldest hardly ever gets sick, so there's a good possibility he won't even get it. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared!

[Ceres]

1) it isnt very effective, so some kids are getting it anyway and some are getting a mild form, then getting it again later, when its more serious.

2)Like rubella, its use is supposed to protect pregnant women, for whose unborn babies it can be very harmful, but also like rubella, it ends up putting more at risk because it prevents most children from getting the disease during childhood. By the time child bearing age rolls around the shot has worn off and so there are MORE women walking around with no immunity in their childbearing years.

3)it is a new vaccine, for which long term effects arent known

4)chickenpox is not nearly as harmful as the medical community has been claiming since a vaccine became available. They did the same scare tactics with other vaccines for mild childhood illnesses in the past.

I am not against all immunization, but I dont think its wise to hand the decision over to the medical establishment either. We decide individually about each one for our kids.

[Chesna]

About the vaccine- I think (atleast in my state Minnesota) the chicken pox vaccine is required before kids can enter school. I too didn't want my daughter to have the shot, I was fine with her getting the disease, but once I heard she needed it to get into school, I had it done.
Calamine lotion..ahh I remember swimming in that stuff when I had the pox.....your itchy, miserable and PINK!!! hehe

Chesna

[Ceres]

There are exceptions in every single state for every single vaccine, you just have to know how to get around it.

[ValD]

4)chickenpox is not nearly as harmful as the medical community has been claiming since a vaccine became available. They did the same scare tactics with other vaccines for mild childhood illnesses in the past.
Sure, chickenpox isn't dangerous for most healthy kids. But healthy kids don't make up the whole of society.
Have you got friends with compromised immune systems? Like they're HIV+, or they have leukaemia or they're undergoing chemotherapy? Do you know any elderly people? Do you know anyone who is taking immunosuppresent drugs?
All these people are at high risk from complications of chickenpox, which include encephalitis, prolonged neuralgia, pneumonia and organ damage. So if you know anybody like that and your kids are carrying chickenpox, keep them well away from these people.

[Thunder]

1) it isnt very effective, so some kids are getting it anyway and some are getting a mild form, then getting it again later, when its more serious.

2)Like rubella, its use is supposed to protect pregnant women, for whose unborn babies it can be very harmful, but also like rubella, it ends up putting more at risk because it prevents most children from getting the disease during childhood. By the time child bearing age rolls around the shot has worn off and so there are MORE women walking around with no immunity in their childbearing years.

3)it is a new vaccine, for which long term effects arent known

4)chickenpox is not nearly as harmful as the medical community has been claiming since a vaccine became available. They did the same scare tactics with other vaccines for mild childhood illnesses in the past.

I am not against all immunization, but I dont think its wise to hand the decision over to the medical establishment either. We decide individually about each one for our kids.

1) The vericella vaccine is very effective. In fact it is more effective than most vaccines. Unlike others it does not even require a booster.

2)The Vaccine is actually contraindicated for pregnant women and INTENDED for babies. The vaccine does not “wear off”. There will be a few (very few) individuals whose immunity may be incomplete and they may contract the disease later in life but it will a milder case not more severe. The number of women or men in this last category is probably consistent with the number of adults who simply failed to get the disease as children prior to the advent of the vaccine. The difference being that unvaccinated adults who contract the disease do get a more severe case.

3)The vaccine has been around for over 20 years and its track record is impeccable.

4) The medical community does not claim that chickenpox is anything other than what it is, an annoying childhood disease with low risk for most children and potentially dangerous to the rest.

I support every parent's decision to take control of their family's health, but choices should be based on a careful evaluation of the facts... without bias. Sounds like you have an agenda.

[Ceres]

All these people are at high risk from complications of chickenpox, which include encephalitis, prolonged neuralgia, pneumonia and organ damage. So if you know anybody like that and your kids are carrying chickenpox, keep them well away from these people.

Thats very good advice and thats exactly what we did when our children had it. One of the benefits of deliberately exposing your children is that you can quarrentine them starting in the time frame where they may possibly be contagious but without being deliberately exposed wouldnt neccessarily know what they were coming down with.

[Ceres]

1) The vericella vaccine is very effective. In fact it is more effective than most vaccines. Unlike others it does not even require a booster.

2)The Vaccine is actually contraindicated for pregnant women and INTENDED for babies. The vaccine does not “wear off”. There will be a few (very few) individuals whose immunity may be incomplete and they may contract the disease later in life but it will a milder case not more severe. The number of women or men in this last category is probably consistent with the number of adults who simply failed to get the disease as children prior to the advent of the vaccine. The difference being that unvaccinated adults who contract the disease do get a more severe case.

3)The vaccine has been around for over 20 years and its track record is impeccable.

4) The medical community does not claim that chickenpox is anything other than what it is, an annoying childhood disease with low risk for most children and potentially dangerous to the rest.

I support every parent's decision to take control of their family's health, but choices should be based on a careful evaluation of the facts... without bias. Sounds like you have an agenda.


I agree. This information sounds like what the CDC puts out, though it could also be what the pharmaceutical companies who make the vaccine put out as well.


1) I dont know where you got the information this vaccine is effective because even the medical community admits it isnt.

2)For reasons not entirely understood, the immunity of a vaccinated child depends upon occasional exposure to the virus. Where will this exposure come from if everyone is vaccinated and the vaccine is as effective as you claim? It seems to me that protect those fragile individuals ValD mentions, it would be best if the rest of us got the actual virus to keep it in circulation, hmm?

3)20 years is not long term. It also has not been in common usage for that long. Large numbers havent been vaccinated for more than ten years.

4)The medical community implies its very dangerous. Pick up a pamphlet put out by the pharmaceutical company that supplies your doctor's office and read the Scary Things printed to make parents fear chicken pox so they will get the vaccine.

[Chesna]

There are exceptions in every single state for every single vaccine, you just have to know how to get around it.

I am aware of this..but since I really don't have either a moral or religious objection, I felt I did not need to exploit this option. I'll save those for those individuals with strong feelings. I just figured since I had them and came out ok, whay not. But then, the thought of sitting with a sick child for a week and having to watch them suffer, well, then vaccinate.

Chesna

[Thunder]

I agree. This information sounds like what the CDC puts out, though it could also be what the pharmaceutical companies who make the vaccine put out as well.


1) I dont know where you got the information this vaccine is effective because even the medical community admits it isnt.

2)For reasons not entirely understood, the immunity of a vaccinated child depends upon occasional exposure to the virus. Where will this exposure come from if everyone is vaccinated and the vaccine is as effective as you claim? It seems to me that protect those fragile individuals ValD mentions, it would be best if the rest of us got the actual virus to keep it in circulation, hmm?

3)20 years is not long term. It also has not been in common usage for that long. Large numbers havent been vaccinated for more than ten years.

4)The medical community implies its very dangerous. Pick up a pamphlet put out by the pharmaceutical company that supplies your doctor's office and read the Scary Things printed to make parents fear chicken pox so they will get the vaccine.

Forget I said anything.

[ApollaJade]

2)For reasons not entirely understood, the immunity of a vaccinated child depends upon occasional exposure to the virus. Where will this exposure come from if everyone is vaccinated and the vaccine is as effective as you claim? It seems to me that protect those fragile individuals ValD mentions, it would be best if the rest of us got the actual virus to keep it in circulation, hmm?

:idea:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a slight amount (very tiny) of the virus in any vaccine? The exposure to those viruses are important, because they trigger the immune system to make antibodies AGAINST that virus, and in order for that to happen the virus in question would need to be present in the body. If there is not the presence of the virus in the varicella vaccine, how is it working to protect the body?

[Ceres]

:idea:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a slight amount (very tiny) of the virus in any vaccine? The exposure to those viruses are important, because they trigger the immune system to make antibodies AGAINST that virus, and in order for that to happen the virus in question would need to be present in the body. If there is not the presence of the virus in the varicella vaccine, how is it working to protect the body?

Its true vaccines work by stimulating our immune systems to recognize the virus we are exposed to by giving us small doses of the virus and the chickenpox vaccine is no different. The virus doesnt remain in our bodies, however, our immune system simply recognizes it after having made antibodies to it. It recalls the recipe :lol:

What scientists have found is that our immune systems are re-stimulated by frequent exposure to the same chickenpox virus, whether we are immunized or had the actual virus in order to keep recognizing it. They think this may be why older people get shingles, which is the same virus manifesting differetly later in life; their immune systems are not recognizing it the same way they once did.

[Thunder]

Its true vaccines work by stimulating our immune systems to recognize the virus we are exposed to by giving us small doses of the virus and the chickenpox vaccine is no different. The virus doesnt remain in our bodies, however, our immune system simply recognizes it after having made antibodies to it. It recalls the recipe :lol:

What scientists have found is that our immune systems are re-stimulated by frequent exposure to the same chickenpox virus, whether we are immunized or had the actual virus.

Every vaccine is different and no vaccine for the last 100 years has been "small doses" of the virus. I would love to discuss this but I don't feel that the playing field is level.

[Ceres]

Every vaccine is different and no vaccine for the last 100 years has been "small doses" of the virus. I would love to discuss this but I don't feel that the playing field is level.

What are you talking about?? Vaccines are made with microscopic doses of either the live or dead virus. Of course there is more to the process than just that, but simply put, that is the basic idea.

I dont understand your condescending attitude on this topic? Are you implying I am not able to comprehend your explanation of your POV? Thats a pretty low way to go about avoiding a debate.

[HetHert]

Come on now Thunder that was a bit condescending. Scientist or not its not hard to do the research and understand the implications when the literature is out there and medical professionals LOVE to put their opinions out there...One has but to Goggle Chicken Pox Vaccine to learn that there is a general consensus about the pros and cons and again it becomes a call on the parents part. Explaining or understanding immunolgy, virology, or epidemiology on an advanced or even intermediate level isn't necessary to know that science isn't perfect.

We've been dealing with this mild virus for centuries...boostering children may decrease the occurance to the point of wiping it out in developed countries and this may not be a bad thing. Several other diseases and virus' have gone the way of irradication in developed countries making life less difficult for all involved. I don't see why chicken pox can't be dealt with in the same manner. Though it is a mild virus, it sure is a pain in the arse for those who have had to get it.
HOWEVER....
The problem is, it is not known for sure how long the vaccine remains in effect within the system. There isn't a consensus on when or if a booster should be administered. Until such time as more info is known I think that parents will be skeptical. Whats the point if the vaccine is only going to wear out as an adult and if the virus isn't gone by the time one reaches adulthood when contracting the virus is by far harder on a person? There are implications that can't be ignored at this point because of the lack of data.

As for the debate to vaccinate or not...
I see a couple factors after having done a little research about it. The majority of the literature I read covers the bases of who's not a good candidate and who is.

Those who would be at a greater risk of suffering adverse effects or complications by contracting Chicken Pox...
people who have weak immune systems or low resistance to disease
infants under 1 year of age
adolescents and adults
newborns whose mothers had chickenpox around the time of delivery
premature infants whose mothers have not had chickenpox
children with eczema and other skin conditions
children receiving therapy with salicylate (a compound found in aspirin)

Those who may find the benefits in the vaccine are parents who work and whose time spent away from work with the child would be more of a detriment to their household than being able to allow the child to contract the virus and stay at home the week that the normal virus takes to run its course.

[Amethyst Rose]

I understand the rationale yet I still fell squinchy about purposefully getting a child sick.

Yeah, me too. I just had my son vaccinated, instead. :)

edit: heh.... I didn't read the rest of this thread before posting. I'm not gonna get into the vaccination debate, though. :)

[Sun Sprite]

My concern with all vaccines - especially those for children is dose strength - it is not tailored to a person's size or weight. Basically a shot given to a newborn has the same streght of virus as a shot given to an adult male, regadless of weight, even upwards of 300 pounds. If it is effective for the adult, wouldn't it be deadly for the infant?

[HetHert]

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a single dose of the chickenpox vaccine for all children between 12 and 18 months of age who have not had chickenpox. Older children should be immunized at the earliest opportunity, also with a single dose. For healthy children older than 13 who have not had chickenpox and have never been immunized against the disease, two doses of the vaccine are required, 4 to 8 weeks apart.

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZU7QBMH4C&sub_cat=24

Its not stated whether its recommended that adults do it...only children between the ages of 1- adolescent (whatever that criteria is).

Here's a link from the CDC...
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/varicella/default.htm

[Thunder]

What are you talking about?? Vaccines are made with microscopic doses of either the live or dead virus. Of course there is more to the process than just that, but simply put, that is the basic idea.

I dont understand your condescending attitude on this topic? Are you implying I am not able to comprehend your explanation of your POV? Thats a pretty low way to go about avoiding a debate.

I appologize. However, I really cannot take part in this. I should not have posted in the first place. I am not just a scientist... I am a microbiologist for a major research based pharmeceutical company. I manage a QC lab for our Vaccine division. I also have a MS in Secondary Education and teach this.

I began posting and reading on this forum last December to relax and get away from the stress of a 60+ hour work week. It has been a strange journey and frankly, Jousting with people about my life's work does not relax me. Again... I am sorry if I offended. But I can't do this. I will be happy to answer questions (PM) but debate would be pointless. There is no doubt in my mind that nothing I could possibly say to you would change your stance on this subject.

Tell me I am wrong.

[Tanya]

Thunder,
Can you answer a question I've had then that my MD didn't seem clear about. Do chickenpox vaccines protect a child from shingles? My poor grandmother was truley driven into her grave by them they are far worse than a few days of fever and itches. I would have my daughter vaccinated to spare her that agony.

I'm really curious.