Chicken pox and lupus

[louloi]

i have lupus and my friend has been in contacted with her grandchildren who have chicken pox we were going to meet up on Monday for a day out can i still she her or do i need to stay away for a while ?

[_jenc_]

Have you ever had Chickenpox before? Are you on any immuno medications? If so, I wouldn't take the risk and would perhaps rearrange with your friend, as I'm sure she would understand your concerns. Take care. 😊

[dgleds]

Id be very careful...

I'll tell you a sad story, but its not about lupus,but someone whos immune system was shot...My brother in law ended up having a brain tumor at 36 and they operated and i think got it all, but he had to have chemo etc., which really weakened his immune system...He got out of the hospital for Christmas and went home...His kiddos had chicken pox, or were just getting the chicken pox...My brother in law had chicken pox when younger, but all that immunity was gone from having the chemo and radiation...He broke out in purple spots all over his body and passed away.&..even though he had supposedly beat his cancer...It was a very sad thing...This was back in the 90's, and no chicken pox vaccine in schools yet here in Canada....So if you have a compromised immune system, be very careful...I know this story was about cancer, and yours is lupus, but its the immune system...

[PMRpro]

Did your friend have CP as a child? If so she is unlikely to catch it again.

When was she in contact with them? At what stage of their CP? If the blisters were all scabbed over then they were no longer infectious. Even if she hasn't had CP in the past, if the contact was very recent and she were to catch CP then she will not be infectious until 14 days after the contact. If your day out is early in that 14 days there should be no problem at all.

You could sit next to someone on a bus who is hatching CP - spending the day with your friend will be no different. Don't hug her!

[Poshcards]

I have been told to stay away from chicken pox/shingles, it could make you very ill x

[nanleighh]

You can only get chickenpox virus if you’re in contact with somebody who’s coming down with the virus. If your friend has already had chickenpox then you cannot catch it from her. If she has not had it and she was coming down with it at the time of your meeting you could catch it from her. Or you would have to be in direct contact with her grandchildren In order to catch it.