Chicken pox help

**HELPihavea2yrold!** · 19-12-2010 22:33

A few questions, how long does it take after exposure to come up in spots and how long are you contagious for? Also wondering about older people, if they had chicken pox very young and are now in their 70s, are they still immune?? Supposed to be going to nan and pops for Xmas but I don't want them to get sick as they are very old and frail.

**HELPihavea2yrold!** · 20-12-2010 17:58

He has started to come up in spots today. If anyone could help me on original question please!

**Chubear** · 20-12-2010 18:45

dont know for sure, i think once you have spots , you are pretty much not contagious anymore ( unless touching the fluid in the pustules).
i think you are contagious for the prior two weeks? also if you have had it you can still get Shingles which is like second time round i think.

**Hamilicious** · 20-12-2010 19:53

Hi, resident Chicken Pox expert here (not really, but I've just had it). You're contagious until the last spot dries out and scabs over. If he's just come up today he might still be contagious Christmas Day - but then again he might not. Depends on how many spots he gets and how quickly they scab.

Adults can get chicken pox again if they had it as a child but usually won't - it's rare (however I had it as a child, confirmed by blood test but no spots, got it again as an adult) but the only way to know for sure is to test immunity and I can't see you doing that

You can do a few things to try to prevent exposure - don't touch the spots, change the sheets and towels, don't share them etc. I went a week without hugging my DH which was hard!

**HELPihavea2yrold!** · 20-12-2010 20:14

My DS always co-sleeps and won't have it any other way unfortunately. He's just had a few spots come up today. I've phoned a chemist to see what I can give him cos he's so unsettled! Going to have to try and get groceries delivered cos I've got nothing in the house for me and don't want to take him out at all.

**PrimaDonnnaGirl** · 20-12-2010 20:22

5 days after rash appears or until all spots are scabbed over - is the infectious period. You cannot get shingles from chicken pox exposure. It is the other way around - so if you haven't had cp then you get them from someone with shingles..
Your grandparents should still be immune as it is lifelong.