How long is chicken pox contagious for?

Question

My 3 years old has chicken pox, The spots came out 2 days ago, different literature seems to give different answers? I want to now when it is safe to take her back to nursery. When the blisters turn to scabs? (which is what i suspect), or when it has cleared up completely. I am 36 weeks pregnant and would also like to know if the virus can surive outside the body?

Answer 1

Did you have chicken pox before ?

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/chicken_pox.html

Check yourself out...call the doctor

Symptoms of Chickenpox
The rash begins as multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites. They develop into thin-walled blisters filled with clear fluid, which becomes cloudy. The blister wall breaks, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs.

Chickenpox blisters are usually less than a quarter of an inch wide, have a reddish base, and appear in bouts over 2 to 4 days. The rash may be more extensive or severe in kids who have skin disorders such as eczema.

Some children have a fever, abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, or a vague sick feeling a day or 2 before the rash appears. These symptoms may last for a few days, and fever stays in the range of 100°–102° Fahrenheit (37.7°–38.8° Celsius), though in rare cases may be higher. Younger kids often have milder symptoms and fewer blisters than older children or adults.

Typically, chickenpox is a mild illness, but can affect some infants, teens, adults, and people with weak immune systems more severely. Some people can develop serious bacterial infections involving the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and the brain (encephalitis). Even kids with normal immune systems can occasionally develop complications, most commonly a skin infection near the blisters.

Anyone who has had chickenpox (or the chickenpox vaccine) as a child is at risk for developing shingles later in life, and up to 20% do. After an infection, VZV can remain inactive in nerve cells near the spinal cord and reactivate later as shingles, which can cause tingling, itching, or pain followed by a rash with red bumps and blisters. Shingles is sometimes treated with antiviral drugs, steroids, and pain medications, and in May 2006 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a vaccine to prevent shingles in people 60 and older.

Contagiousness
Chickenpox is contagious from about 2 days before the rash appears and lasts until all the blisters are crusted over. A child with chickenpox should be kept out of school until all blisters have dried, usually about 1 week. If you're unsure about whether your child is ready to return to school, ask your doctor.

Chickenpox is very contagious — most kids with a sibling who's been infected will get it as well, showing symptoms about 2 weeks after the first child does. To help keep the virus from spreading, make sure your kids wash their hands frequently, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom. And keep a child with chickenpox away from unvaccinated siblings as much as possible.

People who haven't had chickenpox also can catch it from someone with shingles, but they cannot catch shingles itself. That's because shingles can only develop from a reactivation of VZV in someone who has previously had chickenpox.

>>>>>>>>Chickenpox and Pregnancy
Pregnant women and anyone with immune system problems should not be near a person with chickenpox. If a pregnant woman who hasn't had chickenpox in the past contracts it (especially in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy), the fetus is at risk for birth defects and she is at risk for more health complications than if she'd been infected when she wasn't pregnant. If she develops chickenpox just before or after the child is born, the newborn is at risk for serious health complications. There is no risk to the developing baby if the woman develops shingles during the pregnancy.

If a pregnant woman has had chickenpox before the pregnancy, the baby will be protected from infection for the first few months of life, since the mother's immunity gets passed on to the baby through the placenta and breast milk.

Those at risk for severe disease or serious complications — such as newborns whose mothers had chickenpox at the time of delivery, patients with leukemia or immune deficiencies, and kids receiving drugs that suppress the immune system — may be given varicella zoster immune globulin after exposure to chickenpox to reduce its severity.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Preventing Chickenpox
Doctors recommend that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine when they are 12 to 18 months old. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate to severe forms of the infection. Although the vaccine works pretty well, some kids who are immunized still will get chickenpox. Those who do, though, will have much milder symptoms than those who haven't had the vaccine and become infected.

Healthy children who have had chickenpox do not need the vaccine — they usually have lifelong protection against the illness.

Treating Chickenpox
A virus causes chickenpox, so your child's doctor won't prescribe antibiotics. However, antibiotics may be required if the sores become infected by bacteria. This is pretty common among kids because they often scratch and pick at the blisters.

The antiviral medicine acyclovir may be prescribed for people with chickenpox who are at risk for complications. The drug, which can make the infection less severe, must be given within the first 24 hours after the rash appears. Acyclovir can have significant side effects, so it is only given when necessary. Your doctor can tell you if the medication is right for your child.

Dealing With the Discomfort of Chickenpox
You can help relieve the itchiness, fever, and discomfort of chickenpox by:

Using cool wet compresses or giving baths in cool or lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Oatmeal baths, available at the supermarket or pharmacy, can help to relieve itching. (Baths do not spread chickenpox.)
Patting (not rubbing) the body dry.
Putting calamine lotion on itchy areas (but don't use it on the face, especially near the eyes).
Giving your child foods that are cold, soft, and bland because chickenpox in the mouth may make drinking or eating difficult. Avoid feeding your child anything highly acidic or especially salty, like orange juice or pretzels.
Asking your doctor or pharmacist about pain-relieving creams to apply to sores in the genital area.
Giving your child acetaminophen regularly to help relieve pain if your child has mouth blisters.
Asking the doctor about using over-the-counter medication for itching.
Never use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in children with chickenpox because aspirin has been associated with the serious disease Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and even death.

As much as possible, discourage kids from scratching. This can be difficult for them, so consider putting mittens or socks on your child's hands to prevent scratching during sleep. In addition, trim fingernails and keep them clean to help lessen the effects of scratching, including broken blisters and infection.

Most chickenpox infections require no special medical treatment. But sometimes, there are problems. Call the doctor if your child:

has fever that lasts for more than 4 days or rises above 102° Fahrenheit (38.8° Celsius)
has a severe cough or trouble breathing
has an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, discolored fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sore
has a severe headache
is unusually drowsy or has trouble waking up
has trouble looking at bright lights
has difficulty walking
seems confused
seems very ill or is vomiting
has a stiff neck
Call your doctor if you think your child has chickenpox, if you have a question, or if you're concerned about a possible complication. The doctor can guide you in watching for complications and in choosing medication to relieve itching. When taking your child to the doctor, let the office know in advance that your child might have chickenpox. It's important to ensure that other kids in the office are not exposed — for some of them, a chickenpox infection could cause severe complications.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: August 2006

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Chicken pox is contagious from the incubation period (14-21 days from when your toddler first came into contact) until the last blister has scabbed over and no new blisters are appearing.

It is caught from contact from the liquid from the blisters or from sneezing. I don't believe it survives outside the body. If you go into labour whilst your daughter still has new blisters appearing, you had better mention this to your doc / midwife, but after this time, your baby will not be exposed if you have already had it and therefore should not catch it again. It is a blessing that your 3yo has caught chicken pox now and will be over it before your baby is born.

Your toddlers nursery will probably have their own policy and it may be worth checking with them.

Answer 4

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There is no need to avoid contact with others, chickenpox is a normal thing with regard to humans as we all go through a life and sometime in life we get it. your child should go to a doctor and get the right medication. calamine helps to stop the itch and dries it out. first make sure it is chickenpox, first sign are bihind the hears, neck and fingers. it's better your child haave it now in the younger years than when he is older becuase it becomes increasingly dangerous as one gets older. How chickenpox starts .... may start out seeming like a cold: You might have a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a cough. But 1 to 2 days later, the rash begins, often in bunches of spots on the chest and face. From there it can spread out quickly over the entire body - sometimes the rash is even in a person's ears and mouth. The number of pox is different for everyone. Some people get just a few bumps; others are covered from head to toe. At first, the rash looks like pinkish dots that quickly develop a small blister on top (a blister is a bump on your skin that fills up with fluid). After about 24 to 48 hours, the fluid in the blisters gets cloudy and the blisters begin to crust over. Chickenpox blisters show up in waves, so after some begin to crust over, a new group of spots may appear. New chickenpox usually stop appearing by the seventh day, though they may stop as early as the third day. After about a week, all the blisters should get scabs on them and start to heal. Besides the rash, someone with chickenpox might also have a stomachache, a fever, and may just not feel well. These tips can help you feel less itchy: Keep cool because heat and sweat will make you itch more. You might want to put a cool, wet washcloth on the really bad areas. Trim your fingernails, so if you do scratch, they won't tear your skin. Soak in a lukewarm bath. Adding some oatmeal (yes, oatmeal!) to your bath water can help relieve the itching. Have your mom or dad help you apply calamine lotion, which soothes itching. A pain reliever like acetaminophen (say: uh-see-tuh-mih-nuh-fun) might help you feel better, but let your parents help you with this.

Answer 5

Chicken Pox Incubation Period

Answer 6

When the blisters are scabbed over your child is no longer infectious.I would keep her at home for a couple of days after this though incase she gets teased.Get yourself checked over because chicken pox in adults can be more severe and can cause shingles.

Answer 7

Doctors recommend that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine when they are 12 to 18 months old. The vaccine is about 70% to 85% effective at preventing mild infection, and more than 95% effective in preventing moderate to severe forms of the infection. Although the vaccine works pretty well, some kids who are immunized still will get chickenpox. Those who do, though, will have much milder symptoms than those who haven't had the vaccine and become infected.

Answer 8

The virus is infectious from about 2 days before the rash appears, until about 6 days after the rash has appeared, i.e. 7-8 days in all.

Looking at returning to the nursery, the rash may still be present for a few days after infectivity has ceased. However it may still be unsightly and uncomfortable, and occasionally individual lesions may develop secondary bacterial infection. Generally most schools and nurseries prefer children remain away until most of the scabs have cleared.

You mention that you are 36 weeks pregnant. I hopefully assume that you have already had chickenpox? If you have any doubts about this you need to see your GP immediately to have blood test to confirm immunity as should you develop chickenpox in this late stage of pregnancy it can be quite serious.

Answer 9

chicken pox does not effect your unborn child and its safe to take your child back to nursery when the blisters scab,chicken pox are contagious before the spots appear anyway so your child is fine.

Answer 10

i think chicken pox is actually contageous for 2 weeks before the spots even come out until the blisters dry over. your child is no longer contageous if the blisters are dry but the nursery will probably prefer them gone completely. give them a ring and ask? not sure about the virus surviving outside the body though, perhaps you could find that out by giving your doctor a ring?

Answer 11

You should mention to your doctor about you being pregnant - it's not good with chickenpox (although at 36 weeks hopefully you'll be ok). Your suspicion is correct - once the blisters have scabbed over your child will no longer be contagious.