Chicken pox

[Zoe-richardson]

Hi. I am in biologicals and my little girl has chicken pox. (I have had them) should I just take my injections as normal. X

[Moomin8]

Hi- I don't know the answer but I'd be interested to know the answer as I work in a school and will be in the same situation time and time again...

[helixhelix]

If you've had chicken pox then you should have antibodies to them so you should have some protection (you can have a blood test to check). However you can get them twice, so since you can't avoid your own child then lots and lots of handwashing is needed.

But if you get any symptoms yourself then head straight to your GP for an anti-viral as it can be nasty in adults.

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

Don't rely on the blood test....it's not perfect. I'd had chickenpox, had the antibodies & I still got shingles.

Get the anti virals ASAP..I did & only had spots for two weeks..but still have the headaches 9 months later.

Shingles is horrid....if anyone is in the age group that the NHSis offering the vaccine ....do get it. It's around £200 if your'e the wrong age!

[hawker955]

No, definitely not. Check with your rheumatologist but pox-virus infections can be very nasty in immunosuppressed victims.

[helixhelix in reply to hawker955]

I agree it can be nasty in adults, and more so if you have a compromised immune system. But she isn't infected herself and having had chicken pox once there's a good chance she won't get it. So why stop drugs now? Surely better to be extra careful about hygiene and try to avoid infection as the first line defence.

But always best to check with your own doctor/rheumy as they know the specifics of your medical history.

[hawker955]

You are correct about hygiene being thebest first line defence, but if on biologicals one is undoubtedly immuno-compromised and your immune-system will not be "prepared" to deal with the virus. In other words, one's immune system forgets that you are immune. So give it the memory back, so to speak, and don't use them for the time being. Biologicals depress your first line of immunity, so-called T-cells. These wake up the rest of the immune system to protect you. No doubt in my mind, So yes, hygiene but stop biologicals while the risk is there. Sorry!

[nomoreheels]

The British Society for Rheumatology states

Other infection risk issues with biologic drugs -

Chicken Pox and Shingles. If you have never had chicken pox and you then come into contact with someone with chicken pox or think you have it, you should contact your GP and rheumatology multidisciplinary team immediately as a special treatment HVZ Ig may be recommended. If you have previously had Chicken Pox and you develop shingles (your old chicken pox reactivating) then prompt treatment with acyclovir is needed and your biologic will probably need stopping temporarily, so talk immediately to your GP and Rheumatology Multidisciplinary team.

rheumatology.org.uk/patient...

Hopefully this helps. Anti bacterial hand gel is my basic defence against nasties, not had anything of note this year, not even a cold.

[Hidden]

Why throw the baby out with the bathwater? We surely come into contact with people who are sick when we shop or catch a bus. So many "bugs" to harm us as we go about our daily lives.

Eventhough you have had chicken pox, you can still get 5th disease (also known as slap cheek disease) or shingles. If you are showing no signs of slap cheek or shingles I would carry on with my meds, but you should ask your doctor for advice.

[Jacki08]

I was in the same situation a few months ago-- looking after my granddaughter who developed C.P a few days after. My consultant said to go to gp if I developed a rash or felt unwell. She also said that people with RD have too much immune system and that the drugs we take bring it down to a more normal level-- not destroy it totally. 😊

[Jacki08 in reply to Jacki08]

Forgot to say I carried on with my Humira. 😊