Chicken pox

[WiltonT]

looking for advice, I work in childcare and have found out last night one of the children who I am in close contact with has chicken pox. Can anyone give advice on what I should do? Thanks in advance...Tracey x

[helixhelix]

that's awkward, as both chicken pox & shingles can be nasty in adults and nastier for the immune compromised as it can spread more wildly and aggressively. I guess you have no idea whether you had it as a child to the extent of building up antibodies to it? You can have a blood test for this, as you can get chicken pox more than once if you haven't built up antibodies to it. But rather late now!

Best thing is to watch out for symptoms and if you have any signs then head off to GP straight away for an anti-viral shot. And keep your distance from spotty children for a couple of days - no cuddling kids with chicken pox.

[popsmith1874]

Yes i would do same any symptoms at all straight t gp

[Jenniet]

When this happened to me I phoned my rheumy nurse who spoke to a consultant and they phoned my surgery to tell my gp I needed a blood test to find out if I had the antibodies. This was after I had been in contact so I guess they thought that was ok. I had the blood test found out I had the antibodies so didn't need to worry again. The gp wasn't very happy about it to begin with but I think that was just because he wasn't very well up on the drugs we take!

[watcher56]

My experience was just as Jenniet, I work in a nursery and after contact, I had a blood test which came back the next day to say I had antibodies, so all was ok. I'm on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine and am fortunate in not picking up any more bugs than any one else ( but I am 60, so may be have more immunity cos of my age)

[Lesley_ann]

Hi Tracey, I agree with the other posts about having a blood test My situation was slightly different.l had never had chicken pox and when my daughter's class started coming down with chicken pox my rheumatologist advised my gp to put me on a 28 day course of strong anti biotics. My daughter did get chicken pox but I didn't thankfully. 

[oldtimer]

I don't understand the reasoning behind putting someone on antibiotics for a risk of chickenpox. Antibiotics don't work against viral infections like chickenpox. There are some antiviral drugs which might have an effect and these are often given to adults on immune-suppressants. Was this what you were given?