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Chicken Pox Party, Anyone?
February 5, 2009 at 5:57 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (50)
A mother in my son's old preschool -- an MD, an internist who lives and breathes this stuff -- strongly believes in chicken pox parties. That's when you purposely let your otherwise healthy child play with and share the germs of another kids who already has the chicken pox, so yours can get the illness and get it over with.
According to an article on ParentDish.com, chicken pox parties are become hugely popular in some states. Moms are even advertising them on craigslist.
I had the pox when I was little, and I still have the scars to prove it. But chicken pox is supposedly so much worse if you get it as an adult, as I learned when my doctor friend relayed to me as story of her sister-in-law, who suffered as a 20-year-old. Her itchy and burning pox was so bad, it spread into unspeakable parts of her body that I shant even mention here because it will make you scream.
So now I'm left wondering whether a chicken pox party is a good idea for kids -- regardless if they have the vaccine or not, since that's not 100 percent foolproof anyway.
I already know how other CafeMoms feel. About half of commenters in a recent Advice for Moms thread said they like the idea of a chicken pox party and the rest don't -- with comments ranging from:
"Exposing a child at a "pox party" gives natural LIFELONG immunization ... unlike vaccines which are not lifelong. Considering the side effects I would much rather have CP naturally. :)" --StarMommy77
TO
"A very bad idea." --3teensinmyhouse
Now I want to know how you feel about chicken pox parties? Have you or would you take your toddler to one?
FILED UNDER: doctor visits, health, safety, sick days
Comments:
My siblings and I all got the pox from our neighbors. Yes, it was intentional. My mom had them come over and give us hugs and sit in our laps. They were very young. I was about 12 I think... I did get a fever with mine, and mostly laid on the couch. My siblings didn't seem bothered by them at all and resumed normal activities.
I would absolutely let my children get the pox if it was around. I think it's much MUCH safer and easier to handle the younger they are. Also, as mentioned the vax wears off, and leads to potential problems of getting it as an adult. It's not common to get it many times over, especially if you otherwise have a healthy immune system.
My mom let us play with a kid who had chicken pox when we were young so we could get it over with. If I had bio children I wouldn't mind letting them join in chicken pox parties.
If there's a chance that your child may never get chicken pox...Why would you want to make them get it?
Bash me if you want but this seems a little ridiculous.
I feel the natural exposure is better.
The vaccine is not 100% effective - no vaccine is. I had the CP vaccine and still got it as a kid. I would rather expose my kids now than vaccinate them multiple times only to watch them get REALLY sick when they are older bc I did not allow nature to run its course. True some children get it worse than others and it is never easy seeing your child sick, but there are far more serious illnesses and even deaths in adult chicken pox than in children.
I agree with madamekatekate! It's not a given that you'll get it! My hubby is 46 years old and never had it! Besides, I don't necessarily believe that it's so much worse as adults! I just think we have more ability to moan and complain!!
This is ridiculous. Do you know how many kids have horrible complications and even die from chicken pox each year? More than SIDS.
Why would anyone make their kids get a dangerous disease when they can prevent them from ever getting it?
I am not slamming moms who selectively vax, but get the facts before you make a choice like this instead of saying "well everyone got it when I was a kid". I questioned the vaccine too but my doc gave me info and I did research on my own too.
IMO any mom who purposely causes her child to get a disease...ANY disease, needs a CPS check.
Natural immunity is far better than artificial immunity; natural lasts forever, artificial does not. If you have an older child it can be deadly, that is why it is better that they have it when they are young; it is not deadly then and it will make them immune for life!
Pharmaceutical companies contaminate vaccines with chemicals that your body is not equipped to handle; a young immune system CAN handle the chicken pox.
Those of who us who choose not to vaccinate or selectively vaccinate HAVE done our research; that is why we know so much on topic as opposed to those who think we should be reported for abuse! Filling my children up with chemicals would be considered abuse.
I had chicken pox in kindergarten (missed 2 weeks of school) and then gave it to my brother. I'm pretty sure my mom's friend brought her kids over to catch it, too.
I've never run into the situation since I've never known a kid to have the chicken pox now a days (my oldest is in 3rd grade and my 3 older kids have had the shot as has pretty much everyone in the school, I'm assuming).
I'm not sure how I would feel about exposing them to it. On one hand it would be a test of the immunization. On the other hand I really wouldn't want to deal with 4 sick kids for a week or two. That would be torture.
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No. Absolutely NOT. I had a neighbor who wanted to bring her daughter over when my son got chicken pox. I said no. A few years later, I got a tearful call from her. Her daughter got chicken pox from a kid at school. Her daughter was in ICU and they did not know if she would live. The pox attacked her spinal cord and brain. She did make it, but had to learn how to walk and talk all over again. It was frightening. There are hundreds of kids who have to be hospitalized every single year due to chicken pox and secondary infections. My younger son had them twice. The second time, they broke out on his eyeballs. Fortunately, he did not go blind, but that is a potential complication. In addition, exposure to chicken pox can result in adults breaking out with shingles and can cause birth defects when pregnant women are exposed. This is not a harmless illness. For most, it is an irritation, but for many it is serious and disgusting to me that the doctors mentioned take this so mildly. Exposure does not always give life long immunity. I know several people who have had the pox multiple times. There is an old saying that the person did not get a bad enough case the first time. WEll, my son was totally broken out BOTH times. I know a man who has gotten them 4 times and each time is HORRIBLE. A person who has had them can get them again....especially is their immunity is impaireed at all.
tomatoqueen Feb. 5, 2009 at 6:35 PM