View Full Version : Would you purposely expose...
Bell & Bug
15-03-2010, 22:58
(I wasn't sure exactly where to post this so thought here would be ok?) Poll coming..
Would you purposely expose your child/ren to another child/ren with chicken pox so that your child/ren would then get the chicken pox?
Why/Why not?
I personally wouldn't, I don't see the reason to purposely make my child sick.
I don't know if it is still done or if it is a done thing, but I have known of a few people who have done this, and it was done to DF when he was a pre-teen.
That is not something I purposly would do. I can't leave work for the week or 2 that my DS would have them. I had them for 2wks when I was younger and I didn't enjoy the experience at all.
The Girls Only Club
15-03-2010, 23:16
I voted other because when the girls were younger I wanted them to get chicken pox to get them over with.I thought it would be easier if they had then younger.They are 10 and 9 now and have been to 3 "pox parties" but they never got the pox.I wouldn't take them to one now though.If they are gunna get them they will.
Opinionated
15-03-2010, 23:17
My children are vaxxed and have had chicken pox (mildly after the vax). I would not expose them if I could help it.
If they were unvaxxed, there is no way I would expose them "so they can get it why they are young". Chicken pox can be particularly nasty in a few cases. I avoid exposing my children to illness if possible.
Rampant Madness
15-03-2010, 23:19
My child is vaxxed. I am not happy with myself that I did not do my own research into doing so, and i would prefer my child to get the pox.
Personal choice
MimiGrace
15-03-2010, 23:20
well its not a definite 'no' from me, but i'm not sure its a 'yes' either. so i'm pretty undecided :p
i had the chicken pox, and my best friend had them at the same time (we and our younger brothers were four dirty unvaxxed kids who got sick together a couple times :D:p for chicken pox, whooping cough, and possibly another one or two that i can't remember anymore).
But it would depend on whether or not i COULD be there with my children etc.
I'd rather they caught it at a time when i had them conciously exposed, because that way i could make sure that they didn't pass it on, rather than catching it while i was unaware, and passing it onto immuno compromised people.
[i wish they could hurry up and figure out how to have glandular fever parties though :detective:]
So...long winded 'i don't know' :laughing:
peanutbutter&jelly
15-03-2010, 23:20
:no: Nope. My DS is fully vaxxed, but even then, I wouldn't risk it. What starts as something relatively harmless can escalate, why would I risk his health if it wasn't necessary?
JMHO anyway...
SassyMummy
15-03-2010, 23:23
No, but "pox parties" were common in days gone by.
I discovered not too long ago that the reason my brother and I caught chicken pox when I was 6 and he was 4-5, was because my mother arranged for us to play with infected kids. It was thought to be better then, than when we were older... so they wanted to get it out of the way.
It was awful though, I had them all in my throat, nose, etc. DD is vaccinated against them, but I'd still keep her away from an infected child if I knew they were infected.
JabberJaw
15-03-2010, 23:32
No way, my girls both had chicken pox last yr (one to old for CP vaxx, one to young) they were very very ill, had pox in there eyes (on the inner lid) ears, and inside there vagina's, also in there mouths, They were very very ill. They stayed out of hospital because i was syringing fluid into both of them.
NO WAY would i ever do that, nor would i recommend it, chicken pox is not always the mild childhood disease it is made out to be.
IMO that is child abuse. Makes me sick to think someone would intentionally cause ill harm to their child.
No way. My son got it before he was old enough for the vax and it was nasty. He ended up with a chest infection and bronchitis from it. He had to have a chest x ray to rule out pneumonia. No way known I would deliberately put a child through that.
Bell & Bug
15-03-2010, 23:39
JabberJaw I feel similarly with what you are saying that you consider it child abuse. It is just so wrong.
Seacretsquirrel
15-03-2010, 23:51
I wouldn't deliberately send them to a "pox party" but I don't think I would stress too much if I found out that they had been exposed via a regualr playdate or thought kindy or the likes, DD is vaxxed and DS will be in 6 months!
I had them at 6 or 7 and I had a nasty dose - all internally as well as tonsillitis it wasn't fun.
Mum2Mimi
16-03-2010, 00:11
My children are vaxxed and have had chicken pox (mildly after the vax). I would not expose them if I could help it.
If they were unvaxxed, there is no way I would expose them "so they can get it why they are young". Chicken pox can be particularly nasty in a few cases. I avoid exposing my children to illness if possible.
:iagree:
Mum2Mimi
16-03-2010, 00:13
No way, my girls both had chicken pox last yr (one to old for CP vaxx, one to young) they were very very ill, had pox in there eyes (on the inner lid) ears, and inside there vagina's, also in there mouths, They were very very ill. They stayed out of hospital because i was syringing fluid into both of them.
NO WAY would i ever do that, nor would i recommend it, chicken pox is not always the mild childhood disease it is made out to be.
IMO that is child abuse. Makes me sick to think someone would intentionally cause ill harm to their child.
:iagree:
TurnedBatty
16-03-2010, 01:08
I said no only because I have never had chicken pox myself, and chances are that if bs got it, so would I! I have had him
vaccinated though, and I guess I really should get myself done too, because I really wouldn't have a clue if ss is vaccinated. But, if I had of had the good old pox when I was a kid, then yes, I would deliberately expose him to it.
no bloody way not a chance in h*ll, Never, I wouldnt purposely expose my child to any illness, Any illness can have drastic complicatons
No way. It can acutally be quite a dangerous illness, contrary to popular belief.
I had it when I was about 6 years old and I gave it to my dad too. I was A LOT sicker than he was, and he was in his twenties. So because of my experience, it's not always easier to have when younger.
And even if it was, I can't even imagine 'trying' to get my child sick :(
BabelFish
16-03-2010, 02:39
No way. Never. Chicken Pox can result in blindness and it's not that uncommon.
~Temet Nosce~
16-03-2010, 06:00
No way. Could never make my child sick on purpose, and I have never had chicken pox before.
Can adults get the chicken pox vaccine?
TripleTime
16-03-2010, 07:48
God no!
I had pox as a kid & it's not fun at all.
Never. No Way would I put my children at risk like that.
RoarsomeMum
16-03-2010, 08:10
No, I would not.. Not worth the risk for DD
But If She was a different child, perhaps..
I don't see it as total and utter recklessness and child endangerment..
Fuchsia!
16-03-2010, 08:23
I wouldn't purposely expose them for that reason, but i wouldn't cease contact with the child over chicken pox. If they got it, then they got it, if not then ok
I hope my kids get it while their young.
delirium
16-03-2010, 08:28
No I wouldn't. Both my kids have had the CP vaxx but I still wouldn't deliberately do it.
As for it being child abuse, I would say that's a bit unfair. That term seems to get chucked around for any parenting decision that people don't agree with. I understand Jabber with the history of your loss of a bub from a vaxxing illness, why you feel this way (it was you wasn't it?)
Parents that do it, do it in their minds for the good of their kids. Not a choice I would ever make, but I'm not god and I don't think I have all the answers.
Rampant Madness
16-03-2010, 08:30
Well said Delirium :yelclap:
no bloody way not a chance in h*ll, Never, I wouldnt purposely expose my child to any illness, Any illness can have drastic complicatons
:iagree:
I think it is sad that some people purposely expose their children to a disease. It is the most uncomfortable horrible sickness. I can remember how horrible it felt. :(
I will probably get DS vaxxed. My friend's husband caught chicken pox from his kids as an adult & sadly died he was only about 30.:no:
Fuchsia!
16-03-2010, 08:45
I will probably get DS vaxxed. My friend's husband caught chicken pox from his kids as an adult & sadly died he was only about 30.:no:
And thats why some choose to purposely do it while they are kids.
Deserama
16-03-2010, 08:50
I got chicken pox when I was 16 and a very nasty dose of it so I would prefer that they get it while they were primary school age. I wouldn't have a chicken pox party or make a point of taking my kids to someone's house just to expose them, but I wouldn't panic or worry if they were exposed accidently.
little_fish
16-03-2010, 09:13
I voted No as I've heard through a teacher that the virus is nastier than when I was a child and pox parties were the done thing. I chose to vaccinate instead.
Just a note though, when I was reading up on the vaccine, I read that adults immunity is usually maintained based on the assuption that we will be exposed to the virus again when our kids get it, so if our children don't have it, the parents immunity is also very low.
missie_mack
16-03-2010, 09:22
I wouldn't take a child to a party as such but I would prefer them to naturally acquire it when they are younger then have to worry about getting it or maintaining vaccinations when they are older.
Just a note though, when I was reading up on the vaccine, I read that adults immunity is usually maintained based on the assuption that we will be exposed to the virus again when our kids get it, so if our children don't have it, the parents immunity is also very low.
Thats actually correct. To maintain immunity to need to come in contact with children that have the virus so if my child had had it or was vaccinated I would then be encouraging them to spend time with children who have it to build up their immunity. People who have been in regular contact with those with the virus are far less likely to develop shingles. Studies have shown only children tend to develop shingles much earlier than children with siblings who would have shared the virus around in some form.
Its actually a big part of the reason the UK decided not to introduce the chicken pox vaccine. Studies showed that the rate of shingles would increase (due to lack of contact with the natural virus) and would eventually kill large portions of the community (particularly those in high risk categories like the elderly and sick) and be a burden on the public health system... pretty scary eh!
Whilst chicken pox can be nasty shingles is worse. It's effects in most cases cause more nerve damage and long term effects in people and kill twice as many people than chicken pox :eek:
No :no:
One of the objectives of a vaccination program is to try and eradicate the disease so trying to spread the disease, well, it's not very helpful to the bigger picture.
Lillynix
16-03-2010, 09:34
I would never intentionally expose my children to Chicken Pox, but wouldn't kick up a stink if I found out they were exposed at school or by a friend/relative, if it happens it happens.
I have never had CP (or any other 'childhood' illnesses either) despite being directly exposed to them twice in my childhood for lengthy periods, i'm actually starting to think I may have gained natural immunity from this without having been 'infected', but just incase I haven't, i'd really hate to get it as an adult, which is (one reason) why I wouldn't intentionally expose my children.
JabberJaw
16-03-2010, 22:48
No I wouldn't. Both my kids have had the CP vaxx but I still wouldn't deliberately do it.
As for it being child abuse, I would say that's a bit unfair. That term seems to get chucked around for any parenting decision that people don't agree with. I understand Jabber with the history of your loss of a bub from a vaxxing illness, why you feel this way (it was you wasn't it?)
Parents that do it, do it in their minds for the good of their kids. Not a choice I would ever make, but I'm not god and I don't think I have all the answers.
Its not just from my loss that i feel this way, its after seeing how sick my girls got, almost being hospitalised that i feel it is a form of child abuse, to intentionally harm and possibly kill ones child is wrong. Its like letting your kid ride a bike without a helmet really, they could be right and survive the ride, but its better for them to have the helmet on just in case. IMO. So in reality, you should not intentionally expose your child to an illness, if you were going to do that wouldn't you just get the vaxx :confused:
Another hubber has a DD who has disabilities from chicken pox, blind even. Its not always a mild disease.
Maybe if the people who would expose their children to a preventable childhood illness spent a day with someone who has a disabled child, they would get a different perspective. Lucky for me my girls only have a few deep scars from there bout, actually bub got an infection in one of her pox on her breast, she had to have it operated on and we wont know till she is older if her breast will grow, it may, it may not they said, so if it doesn't that would mean cosmetic surgery for her to correct her breast.....all because of one chicken pock.....
So basically what i am saying is that it is morally wrong to intentionally harm a child, exposing them to chicken pox is intentionally harmful, and totally wrong.
JabberJaw
16-03-2010, 22:49
I wouldn't take a child to a party as such but I would prefer them to naturally acquire it when they are younger then have to worry about getting it or maintaining vaccinations when they are older.
Thats actually correct. To maintain immunity to need to come in contact with children that have the virus so if my child had had it or was vaccinated I would then be encouraging them to spend time with children who have it to build up their immunity. People who have been in regular contact with those with the virus are far less likely to develop shingles. Studies have shown only children tend to develop shingles much earlier than children with siblings who would have shared the virus around in some form.
Its actually a big part of the reason the UK decided not to introduce the chicken pox vaccine. Studies showed that the rate of shingles would increase (due to lack of contact with the natural virus) and would eventually kill large portions of the community (particularly those in high risk categories like the elderly and sick) and be a burden on the public health system... pretty scary eh!
Whilst chicken pox can be nasty shingles is worse. It's effects in most cases cause more nerve damage and long term effects in people and kill twice as many people than chicken pox :eek:
Thats why you would have a booster of the vaxx ;) Just in case.
I wouldn't feel comfortable deliberately exposing my child to an illness like that.
Imagine if they were one of the few that had an extreme reaction to it. I could never live with myself.
EvangelinaOne
17-03-2010, 18:38
No way. I have no immunity to chicken pox and have had it three times and don't fancy getting it again unecessarily. Nor do I want my daughter to suffer with it. It's awful.
oh no blooming way :no: i hate seeing my DS sick no way i could intentionally do that
missie_mack
17-03-2010, 18:49
Thats why you would have a booster of the vaxx ;) Just in case.
The government recommendations don't actually include a booster shot. There is however a shingles vaccines but it isn't on the PBS and is at a cost of several hundred $$$ which is pretty harsh considering those most likely to need it are the elderly...
Although if I remember rightly it was your children who have had the virus on several occassions so I don't imagine a booster would prevent that type of incidence as the vaccine is simply a small dose of the live virus
Boobycino
17-03-2010, 19:04
A friend was slightly irritated or like "oh darn!" I didn't tell them Jasper had chicken pox, because they'd have brought their little boy who's the same age over to catch it.....
.... it wouldn't have personally bothered me if they wanted to do it, because they explained the logic, they're from the UK, so maybe its more common thing to do there.
But i wouldn't have purposefully expose Jasper to chicken pox. :no:
Another hubber has a DD who has disabilities from chicken pox, blind even. Its not always a mild disease.
And I'm currently teaching a students who is an amputee (above the knee) and is profoundly deaf in one ear and legal deaf in the other....not a chance in hell I'd expose my children to that if there's another option!!!
TallisLanesMummy
17-03-2010, 21:32
i would rather that the boys get it younger (Tallis has had it already) then older, i had it at 16-17 and I couldn't move for a week and then another week recovering... it is worse when you get older, but i'd not put Lane at risk of it yet as he is to young and has enough problems with getting Bronculitis and RSV that i wouldn't risk him being in hospital again...
hence my answer is no due to not wanting Lane to potentially get a worse case then he "normal"
Little-Pink-Hen
17-03-2010, 22:08
I choose other.
Bub will prob be vaxed againist it
i wouldn't expose my child ATM as she is still an infant if she wasn't vaxed and was 4-16 I'd think about exposing but can't say for sure
A Party of Five
03-04-2010, 15:19
Chickenpox is normally a mild disease. But it can be serious and can lead to complications, especially in these high-risk groups.Anyone who had chickenpox is at risk of a latent illness called shingles. After a chickenpox infection, some of the varicella-zoster virus may remain in your nerve cells. Many years later, the virus can reactivate and resurface as shingles a painful band of short-lived blisters. About one in 10 adults who've had chickenpox experiences shingles. The virus is more likely to reappear in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Shingles can lead to its own complication a condition in which the pain of shingles persists long after the blisters disappear. This complication, called postherpetic neuralgia, can be severe.
Besides they have a vaccine for it now.
No I am not a fan of having sick kids :no:
They are 10 and 9 now and have been to 3 "pox parties" but they never got the pox.I wouldn't take them to one now though.If they are gunna get them they will.
OMG!:eek: I've never heard of this! I can't believe people seriously do this! Sorry, but I think that's sick. Would you take yourself to a party with the sole purpose of exposing yourself to someone with a horrible illness? (Not attacking you personally, just horrified that people are doing this!)
MimiGrace
03-04-2010, 21:39
OMG!:eek: I've never heard of this! I can't believe people seriously do this! Sorry, but I think that's sick. Would you take yourself to a party with the sole purpose of exposing yourself to someone with a horrible illness? (Not attacking you personally, just horrified that people are doing this!)
there's a few people in the states who, instead of attending parties, were sending out lollypops which their daughter with chicken pox had licked - to give to children to infect them
so yes, its not entirely uncommon.
Its also [in part] because several european countries have taken the chicken pox vaccine off the roster because they found that you're more likely to get shingles as an adult if you have only been exposed to the vaccine, not the actual disease. and a lot of people feel its better to give the child chicken pox as a child, rather than risking them getting it as an adult.
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