Chicken Pox

[Bailey59]

Am a GPA sufferer taking Steroids and methotrexate to suppress. Working well to be honest

Grandchildren have Chicken Pox going round their school. Will keep away, but given I have a few grandchildren who haven't had it, and its contagious when not showing. Anyone had any issue with Chicken Pox whilst immune suppressed. Any thoughts ?

Is there a vaccine...I could have ?

Tried Rheumotolgy who passed to Doctors...who tell me to make an appointment, but cant do that till tomorrow. My guess is this may be quicker and more accurate

Thanks

[PMRpro]

There is a vaccine for children - but not used in the UK. It is a live vaccine - so not recommended for us anyway.

ox.ac.uk/research/everythin...

Most of us at our age probably had CP as a child and it IS very unusual to get it more than once. Once you have had CP there is the risk of developing shingles later - the virus settles in the nerves and can migrate to the nerve endings where it causes the pain of shingles and also a rash. You can't catch shingles itself though and there is a vaccine for that - the Shingrix one is considered OK for people who are immunosuppressed, the Zostavax one isn't.

I think you need to discuss it with your GP - they can test you to see if you have CP antibodies from a previous infection. If you are in contact you have 10-14 days usually before the symptoms would appear and the GP can put you on antiviral medication to reduce the severity of the illness should you develop it. But even in healthy adults, CP can be a very nasty illness so I really don't advise risking it without having checked with your gP first.

[Bailey59 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for reply.

Have had CP as a child, appreciate its unlikely to get twice for normal adults, want sure if being immune suppressed make the likelihood different ?

Tried GPs, but cant speak to anyone today, and need to ring at 08:00 tomorrow get in a queue and get and appointment !! I did say I was immune suppressed.

Will at this appointment ask on the vaccine. Isn't it standard to give the vaccine to immune suppressed give its severity ? like they did with Pneumonia

[PMRpro in reply to Bailey59]

For shingles you mean? In the UK it seems to be only given to over 70s and standard is the Zostavax one. However, the NHS has approved Shingrix (which costs more and there is still limited supply) for the immunosuppressed

gov.uk/government/publicati...

It doesn't protect against CP though

[Bailey59 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks very much for this appreciated. Will speak to GP tomorrow on the likelihood of getting again given I'm immunosuppressed

[Grizzly-bear in reply to Bailey59]

just to add, I know shingles is more common in over 70s but I got shingles when I was 13.

The risk of chickenpox being immune suppressed from what I’ve read depends on how immune suppressed you are. There have been recent cases of people getting chickenpox twice after their immune systems were weakened by covid, so it’s definitely possible.

[vivdunstan Volunteer in reply to Grizzly-bear]

If I remember correctly there's someone in our Vasculitis UK Facebook group who has had chickenpox 4 or 5 times since being immunosuppressed. Full blown chickenpox, not a localised shingles recurrence. I have had shingles twice myself. But luckily so far not chickenpox again, even though the first one put me into hospital.

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

I have had chickenpox as an immunosuppressed adult. It was 1998, I'd only recently started on Azathioprine and Prednisolone. I was 25. I never had chickenpox as a child. I still have no idea who I caught it from, I just came out suddenly in spots. I was rushed by a GP to hospital, in isolation for a week on anti-viral drips. I was lucky to survive. Chickenpox can kill immunosuppressed adults. The big danger is it going down the respiratory system into the lungs, very fast, and causing a fatal pneumonia.

Even if you had chickenpox as a child if you are immunosuppressed you can catch it again. You need to talk to your GP about having the test to see if you have chickenpox antibodies. This can wait a little while, doesn't need doing immediately, and should give a yes/no answer for now, though immunity can wane over time, especially for the immunosuppressed.

If you do come out in chicnepox like spots ever this is a medical emergency. It doesn't matter what time of day it is you need medical help very very quickly. You would need to get antivirals fast. And I hope you wouldn't end up in hospital like me.

Yes the shingles vaccine is something to discuss with the GP if you are in your 70s, but that is separate from the chickenpox situation you are potentially in now.

Good luck!

[Bailey59 in reply to vivdunstan]

Thanks..thats comprehensive and together with other answers, feel better equipped. Thanks all

[AndrewT]

Dear Bailey59,

I can't Add Much, to what's already been Said Except....... YES Non Symptomatic Children CAN be Infectious, or Carrier's. I would Promise, the Children a Big Party, in the New Year- there Must be a Birthday, or 'Something'- and that you will make a Huge 'Fuss', of them, then- but, for now, you Have to Stay Apart.

Do speak to your Sons/ Daughters ('In Laws' too) and get them On Side, with your Thinking.

Boy that Easter Party WILL be great!

AndrewT

[Mooka]

I asked about this in clinic when my grandchildren had chickenpox. They did a blood test and it came back I had antibodies from when I had chickenpox as a child.

[alybill]

Hi Bailey, when the vaccine first made its appearance about 10 years ago (ish) I had a long chat with my practice nurse and she agreed I would benefit from it and I got it then. I had chickenpox as a child and shingles as an adult. Good luck.

[PMRpro in reply to alybill]

Were you on immunosuppressant medication then?