What Do You Know About Chickenpox?

June 17, 2008

Most of us have had chickenpox when we were lil and can expect our own children will have to suffer through the itchy illness as well (unless they have received a vaccine). While finding that first mark can be traumatizing for parents and tots, the illness is a lot less scary than most of us remember.

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23 Comments

jessie 4 years 48 weeks

i'm 31 and never had them. worked in daycares where kids had gotten them. been around nephews and other kids who's had them. my mom got them when she was 45 for the first time. my sis got them when she was 26. since i have 3 kids of my own..they've all had their shots, but still have a chance of a small breakout. i hope i never get them. i think my husband would freak if he had to take care of me with chickenpox.

Greggie 4 years 48 weeks

"Most doctors predict you will only have chickenpox once, but admit the virus stays with us for a long time."Actually, doctors predict that most of us will only have the chicken pox once, not most doctors predict you will only have the chicken pox once. It's worded oddly. It's possible to get it more than once.Also, I've always been told that they're contagious up to two weeks before the rash breaks out.

Greggie 4 years 48 weeks

"Most doctors predict you will only have chickenpox once, but admit the virus stays with us for a long time." Actually, doctors predict that most of us will only have the chicken pox once, not most doctors predict you will only have the chicken pox once. It's worded oddly. It's possible to get it more than once. Also, I've always been told that they're contagious up to two weeks before the rash breaks out.

Greggie 4 years 48 weeks

The chicken pox vaccine is not foolproof. Getting the vaccine only reduces your chances of getting it, or how severe the case is. It does not guarantee that your child will not get the virus.

sunny1intucson 4 years 48 weeks

My sister's chicken pox led to viral encephalitis. This is a rare but possible complication of the infection. It started with projectile vomit and personality changes. We were in a rural area of Texas when it came on, but thankfully the doctors diagnosed her and she received treatment for it. She was fairly young (about 6) and when she came home from the hospital, she had regressed a bit emotionally and physically. She's perfectly fine now, but needless to say it was scary. The vaccine became commercially availabe the following year.

sunny1intucson 4 years 48 weeks

My sister's chicken pox led to viral encephalitis. This is a rare but possible complication of the infection. It started with projectile vomit and personality changes. We were in a rural area of Texas when it came on, but thankfully the doctors diagnosed her and she received treatment for it. She was fairly young (about 6) and when she came home from the hospital, she had regressed a bit emotionally and physically. She's perfectly fine now, but needless to say it was scary.The vaccine became commercially availabe the following year.

heineken67 4 years 48 weeks

Never had it myself (vaccinated in high school), but I know someone who got it for the first time in college.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 48 weeks

"about" 10 days is not 10 days.

lawchick 4 years 48 weeks

kristinh that is HORRIBLE!I had it around age 12 and it was unpleasant, left a few scars, but I recovered in about a week.

lawchick 4 years 48 weeks

kristinh that is HORRIBLE! I had it around age 12 and it was unpleasant, left a few scars, but I recovered in about a week.

mini_pixie 4 years 48 weeks

My sister got the regular chicken pox when she was about 2 or 3, but then she got shingles at 10! That is really early, with most people who get shingles it happens as an adult. Then there's my best friend, who has worked in childcare for 10 years, was exposed several times, and just caught the chicken pox at the age of 27! She was really sick, and I couldn't go see her because I'm pregnant, and she didn't want to infect me :(

mini_pixie 4 years 48 weeks

SugarKat 4 years 48 weeks

6/8, not bad. I'm supposed to get the vaccine for my daughter today and I'm super skeptical about it. I just don't know if enough research has been done on it to see how long it lasts, but I think I'll get it anyway. I don't want her to have to go through what I did and end up with scars...

Kristinh1012 4 years 48 weeks

I had the chicken pox when I was in 9th grade. I had huge blisters all over my head, face and every cavity of my body. I had a 103 fever and had to go to the hospital. The Nurse that took my info was crying when she saw me. They called all these doctors over an intercom to come see me. They had me in an all metal steralized room. It was very scary. One of the doctors they called was very old and said he had only seen one case like that before and it was about 25 years earlier. It was horrible. I was out of school for almost 3 weeks. Surprisingly though I have no scars! Thank god. But they say because I had them so badly I could very easily get shingles, which is said to be VERY painful.

Kristinh1012 4 years 48 weeks

kikidawn 4 years 48 weeks

7/8 I've had it, but I don't remember it.

kikidawn 4 years 48 weeks

7/8 I've had it, but I don't remember it.

smileyface 4 years 48 weeks

100%! Not bad for someone who's never had chicken pox. Both of my sisters who are younger than me had it when we were kids and I hadn't yet, so my mom would make me take baths with them and sleep in the same bed with them so I could get it, but I never did. And my cousin, who was also younger than me at the time, got the chicken pox when we were spending the night at our aunt's house and we were in the same sleeping bag and I still didn't get it. Eventually I got the vaccine when it became available so that I wouldn't get it as an adult, but my doctor said that either I am naturally immune since I was around so many people who had it and I never got it or that I had such a mild case of it that no one even noticed. I didn't even know that could happen!

RosaDilia 4 years 48 weeks

My son had a phsysical in December and his pediatrician was recommending he get a second shot for the vaccine. He explained that the dept. of health was recommending it but wasn't mandatory. If he's in no danger of contracting the virus then he doesn't need a shot. Now I'm hearing that he needs a second meningitis shot and this one is mandatory.