How contagious are chickenpox?
Posted by nmpixie on Nov 15, 2008 · Member since Jan 2008 · 1243 posts
I just started getting the red bumps, but I don't feel sick. I work retail and don't want to get a pregnant woman sick, because it can cause birth defects. But, I don't want to miss work, either. I'm waiting for a Doctor to call me back. Do any of you know?
i think the are pretty contagious. but you might need contact, direct or indirect.
actually, i have no idea.
has she had them before? most people get them when they're young. and i think it can spread through the air, but you have to get pretty close.
No I've never had them before. So, I don't know. I wish the doctor would call me back! I'm losing money.
Chicken pox is highly contagious! However, you are most contagious in the time before you start having bumps and right after you start. Once you are full blown you aren't as contagious.
They are really contagious but if she's had them before as a kid she should be immune.
I'm just a freak of nature who never got them even though my whole school and my sister had them. I must be an alien with secret powers of immunity.
But yea, check if she's had them and check with your doctor for advice, he/she should be able to tell you if it's safer not to be around her.
That's really thoughtful of you to think of your workmate (?) in your decision, so many people wouldn't, so kudos to you :)
I'm just a freak of nature who never got them even though my whole school and my sister had them. I must be an alien with secret powers of immunity.
You could have had a just a few bumps that you didn't notice. You could always ask the doctor to run a titer to see if you have the anitbodies.
nmpixie, I hope the dr finally called you back!
No, had to take a sick day. Grrr! But my boss didn't want to risk getting some stupid customer sick. I should be uncontagious(sp?) by Mon. from what I've read. The funny thing is, I've been exposed to chickenpox at least five times before, and never got them.
Both of my sisters and I had chicken pox at the same time.....didn't really bother us though. My mom made the time really special. She made us doll clothes for our dolls and we all just had a fun time playing.
And watch out for shingles! I had it, years after chickenpox. (They come from the same virus.) Very ichy, very painful.
Chickenpox... Definitely NOT VEGAN. Why am I the first to bring this up?
And watch out for shingles! I had it, years after chickenpox. (They come from the same virus.) Very ichy, very painful.
Chickenpox... Definitely NOT VEGAN. Why am I the first to bring this up?
AC must not have read it yet!
And watch out for shingles! I had it, years after chickenpox. (They come from the same virus.) Very ichy, very painful.
Chickenpox... Definitely NOT VEGAN. Why am I the first to bring this up?
AC must not have read it yet!
;D I didn't! I skipped it b/c of my lack of chickenpox knowledge.
;D
Careful. If you had a light case as a kid, you can get them again. One of my best expat friends here did that. Had it as a kid, a light case, and when her own kids got it, she got it again...bad this time. The older you are, the rougher it goes.
I had a really severe case at age 6 (caught from the boy I had my first crush on, he called and apologised! So cute!) so I was so immune! I had to go help her out a couple days because she had 2 kids under 6 with it, and she had it, and her husband was out of town.
Yes chickenpox is very contagious. Generally, you are contagious from a few days before the spots come out and right up until the last spots crust over.
Certainly here in the UK we recommend people to take the whole time off work. Yes it is a pain, but it's better to take the time off than risk infecting others. It can also trigger shingles in people who have already had chicken pox (as Laurabs mentioned)
When I was pregnant a coworker had the chicken pox. I was very glad that she took time off from work, and so was everyone else that hadn't had chicken pox. I had chicken pox as a child, but when you are pregnant (and full of hormones) your imagination sometimes gets the best of you as you are hoping not to get a second round of the chicken pox.