my cousin is 25 and has chicken pox?!?

Question

I didn't no adults could get chicken pox.Could i catch them shes been in my house today and she brought a child round she lives we and her bf could they be carrying them 2 and not have spots yet? Do you think its shingles or can adults have chickenpox?im worried as i have a 5 year old and ive had chickenpox wen i was a child my son hasn't yet.

Answer 1

Yes, it is very possible. Especially if the adult hasn't had outbreak of chicken pox in his-her childhood. I got my chicken pox vaccine shot 3 years ago cuz I never had chicken pox during childhood. It's best to take that vaccine to safeguard against adult chicken pox cuz it can be quite dangerous -even fatal.

Answer 2

Although you did not KNOW that adults could get chicken pox, they can and do, if they have not previously encountered the infection in childhood. There is currently NO immunisation given for chickenpox in he UK.

Response to the infection tends to be more severe in adults, in fact I have had to admit 4 or 5 adults for intravenous anti-viral therapy over the years, but I have never needed to admit a child. It is also particularly severe, and occasionally life threatening if an adult female catches chickenpox in pregnancy.

If you had chickenpox WHEN you were a child, you cannot catch it again as immunity is life long.

If your cousin had active infection at the time she visited, and your 5 year old was exposed to her, then the child may well develop infection, as the disease spreads easily. In children it is not a particularly problematical condition, so much so that in the past when one child got chickenpox. mum would have invited all her friends children to a ' chickenpox party.' This was in the hope that they would all catch it and get it over with, and avoid the risk of getting the disease in adulthood, when it tends to be more serious.

You don't catch shingles, but you can catch chickenpox from it, if you are non immune. It is a recrudescence of the infection, which comes out of ' storage ' from the original chickenpox infection.

Answer 3

I had chicken pox when I was 28 years old - I thought it was just blisters as I had no idea what chickenpox was, but my doctor freaked when I went to see him! It started off ok then I got feverish and had to spend nearly 2 weeks in bed - lost half a stone though! It is much worse in adults than in children. I didn't have it as a child. I noticed for a few months afterwards that my heart would race & I would get tired after climbing stairs sometimes, my GP said this can be a side effect. It is very contagious, so yes, your son might get it. If you are an adult who has had chicken pox already then you can get shingles which is nasty. The chicken pox virus lives in your spinal cord for the rest of your life, and it comes out sometimes as shingles. If you get any pus filled blisters on your body go to the doctor immediately

Answer 4

You have the responsibility of a child and you can't spell any better than you do?

Keep your son away from your cousin. You keep your distance too for his sake. May I assume that your son was never vaccinated? Is this why you're concerned?

Chicken pox is acquired by direct contact with the fluid from one of the blisters or by inhaling droplets expelled by sneezing or coughing. If your son hasn't had direct contact with any of these people, he probably may not have been exposed but if he wasn't vaccinated, you'll find out soon enough. It might be better if he gets it and gets it over with while he's still a child.

You said yourself that you've already had chicken pox. No, you cannot get them again if you had a full-blown case the first time.

Why would I think it's shingles? You just said your cousin has chicken pox. Shingles - herpes zoster - is a reactivation of the varicella virus, the same one that causes chicken pox and one that never leaves the body.

Run a search for chicken pox and learn about it.

Answer 5

My two sons caught chicken pox a few years ago, they had five spots between them. I was due to start my new job and - yes - I caught it from them. I was covered!! I had spots down my throat, up my nose, in my ears and also places I could not mention here. I was 35, so if you definately haven't had it before you can catch it. Although shingles is caused by the same (herpes) virus, it is a completely different set of symptoms.

Answer 6

If you have had chicken pox then you won't get it again. Chances are your child will get it but it's better to have them young. I had Chicken pox when I was 33 and it was really bad.

You can only get Shingles if you have already had Chicken pox as the virus stays in your spine. It can come out again, usually along one nerve and that is what Shingles is - you cannot catch Shingles.

Answer 7

Yes adults can get chicken pox. If you have already had them then there is a very small chance that you would get them again. I would not be to concerned about your son though as it is better for him to get chicken pox now than it would be in later years. My oldest son had chicken pox when I was pregnant and I never caught them off him so don't worry.

Answer 8

yes adults can get it as well and its may bring more complications than in a child. As you had it when you were a child you won't get it again, as you're immune for life, but your son can. The incubation period ie the time when he first encountered the virus till it develops is 10-14 days so he may get it in 10 days.

I think she was very irresponsible ti get out while she has chicken pox as it is very infective and may give it to anyone she encounters.

There is also a varicella vaccine you can give your child if he was lucky to escape it this time, but wait a least 30 days if you decide to give him the vaccine.

Answer 9

Better that you get it as a kid than an adult. If you have never had the chicken pox you do not have the antibodies to fight of recurring bouts of it. You only get it once.
I haven't had it yet and I double your cousin in age. So for me to catch them now is most likely a hospital visit...it is that dangerous when you get older.

Answer 10

Chicken pox is highly contagious no matter what age you get it. I had chicken pox (for the second time) at 17, if you have had chicken pox before its unlikely that you will get it again, (although its possible) its more likely that you could get shingles (best to just cross your fingers and hope you didn't catch it.)