Grandson has chicken pox and I have RA and due to start a bio similar

[TeresaP]

Hi. I’m currently on sulphasalazine but hope to start Benepali in the next week or so. My 3 year old grandson has got chicken pox which is now starting to scab over. His 1 year old brother hasn’t shown any signs of having it yet. The question is am I ok to see them as I haven’t started biologics yet? 😳

[nomoreheels]

The general info is once the spots have scabbed over they're no longer contagious but the concern for you is two-fold, his brother whilst he doesn't have any signs yet may be harbouring chickenpox (he could be infectious for 2 days before spots appear) & you're about to start a biosimilar. I think you'd be wise to contact either the biologics nurse or your rheumy nurse to see if you're ok to commence it anyway, we're at more risk of course with our immune systems being as they are, it leaves us more open to catching things.

[TeresaP in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you. I’ll try to contact my Rheumy nurse tomorrow as we’re due to see them over Easter (if possible) x

[Triple07]

In general you can only catch chicken pox from chicken pox, so if you have already had those you should be good.

(You can also catch chickenpox from shingles, but not the other way round)

If you haven’t had chickenpox I’d stay well clear 🙈x

[TeresaP in reply to Triple07]

Thank you. I think I had chicken pox when I was little but I’ve no one to ask now sadly. X

[helixhelix in reply to TeresaP]

You can have a blood test to check whether you have the antibodies for chicken pox, and if so you are better protected. You can get chicken pox twice if you didn't develop antibodies the first time round.

[TeresaP in reply to helixhelix]

Ohhh I didn’t know that. Thank you 😊 x

[Fra22-57]

I was always told to not have contact with anyone with chickenpox or anything that's contagious .lots of phone calls extra to them

[Scottiedottie]

Did you have screen g blood tests before going on list for Benepali? Usual procedure

[TeresaP in reply to Scottiedottie]

Yes I did along with chest X-ray. That’s something I could ask although I don’t know if they’d be checking for anything like chicken pox antibodies. 😳

[Scottiedottie in reply to TeresaP]

Mine checked. I think it's pretty standard to check for chicken pox. Always best to check with rheumo though. I've got my Benepali injections in fridge but can't start due to sinus infection

[TeresaP in reply to Scottiedottie]

I’ve left a voicemail message with my rheumatology nurse so will wait to hear back from them. Thanks for your help and I hope the sinus infection clears soon. 😬