Guest guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Helen, All 3 of my girls had the vaccine, however we know for sure that only 2 of them then had chicken pox. And they were 2 weeks apart. Allie probably had them the worst, but it was really a mild case. I think she missed 2 days of school. Dr. W at the time prescribed some type of drug to combat the chicken pox, and she threw up on that stuff. I called the pharmacy and they told me to quit taking it. Dr. W wasn't very happy. However it was a very mild case. I HOPE Nick doesn't get them. He doesn't need anymore added to his plate and you too! I hope all is getting better at your house! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of hburger64Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 8:41 AM Subject: Chickenpox Question Nick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need to be? Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec.Thankshugs Helen and (10,systemic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Helen, I would call the rheumy right away to let them know of the exposure. In most cases, those who had the vaccine typically have a milder case if they get it at all. 8 - 9 out of 10 who have had the vaccine do not get chicken pox, and those who have had a second vaccination have even better odds at not getting them. Those with compromised immune systems cannot have the vaccine. Even though had the vaccine, (just one when he was a baby) they did a titer to test for immunity when it was believed he had an exposure at daycare, and the titer showed no immunity. Luckily, it turned out that the kid at daycare didn't have chickenpox. That said, those who are on immune suppressive therapy are at a higher risk to catch any communicable disease they are exposed to, and anything that would trigger the immune system can also trigger a flare -so that leads to two concerns. I certainly don't want to scare you, and just because he was exposed doesn't mean he will get it - but since it is airborne, it is highly contagious. Though not common, there can be severe complications with chicken pox. I hope that Nick doesn't get them - but I definitely would be in touch with the rheumy or pediatrician. I have been meaning to email you off-line to let you know that you and your family are in my prayers daily. I hope that things turn around for you guys soon. Love, Val Rob's Mom (10,systemic) Chickenpox Question Nick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need to be? Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec. Thanks hugs Helen and (10,systemic) Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Hi We went through this last year between Thanksgiving and New Years. Our son, had the vaccine as a small child, but came down with the chickenpox anyway. He was on Remicade, Arava, and ketoprofen. We had to get him to the hospital within 72 hours of the first break out to be started on acyclovir by IV. He had to be on that until he was all scabbed over. Acyclovir is an antiviral that can't prevent you from getting the pox, but can slow or stop the replication of the virus. He was in the hospital for 5 days. He did great- no complications. But, it is imperative to call your rheumatologist if he does break out as the complications from chickenpox can be horrible (especially at his age and with his immunosuppresion). It was kind of interesting. We have four children. Two were vaccinated and two not vaccinated and they all had the chickenpox. The vaccinated ones may have had a slightly milder case, but not much. HTH Virginia (11, pauci) On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:40:48 -0000 " hburger64 " <hburger64@...> writes: > Nick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the > chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need > to > be? > Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec. > > Thanks > hugs Helen and (10,systemic) > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Hi Helen, I second Val on letting your rheumy know about the exposure. Chicken pox can be a trigger for MAS in the systemic kids. I think it would be smart to have your rheumy know what's going on. Take care, (n, 18, systemic-who is flying home from college this afternoon to visit us for the weekend-Yeah!!!!)On Oct 12, 2007, at 9:22 AM, carneyval@... wrote:Helen,I would call the rheumy right away to let them know of the exposure. In most cases, those who had the vaccine typically have a milder case if they get it at all. 8 - 9 out of 10 who have had the vaccine do not get chicken pox, and those who have had a second vaccination have even better odds at not getting them. Those with compromised immune systems cannot have the vaccine. Even though had the vaccine, (just one when he was a baby) they did a titer to test for immunity when it was believed he had an exposure at daycare, and the titer showed no immunity. Luckily, it turned out that the kid at daycare didn't have chickenpox. That said, those who are on immune suppressive therapy are at a higher risk to catch any communicable disease they are exposed to, and anything that would trigger the immune system can also trigger a flare -so that leads to two concerns. I certainly don't want to scare you, and just because he was exposed doesn't mean he will get it - but since it is airborne, it is highly contagious. Though not common, there can be severe complications with chicken pox. I hope that Nick doesn't get them - but I definitely would be in touch with the rheumy or pediatrician.I have been meaning to email you off-line to let you know that you and your family are in my prayers daily. I hope that things turn around for you guys soon. Love,ValRob's Mom (10,systemic) Chickenpox QuestionNick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need to be? Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec.Thankshugs Helen and (10,systemic)Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Hey Helen, I am not sure how dangerous chicken pox is given Nick's meds, but I do know that vaccine is far from full-proof. Aundrea had the vaccine at around age 2 and she had chicken pox at age 7....3 months later she had her first major jra flare. I would keep an eye on him. Usually, the outbreak of chicken pox is much milder if they have had the vaccine. This was the case for Drea. (aundrea 12 systemic jra/gerd)-- - In , " hburger64 " <hburger64@...> wrote: > > Nick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the > chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need to > be? > Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec. > > Thanks > hugs Helen and (10,systemic) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2007 Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 -Thanks , My now soon to be 16 yr old, had a mild case as a baby ( 2-3 spots) ( pre vaccine days) and then got a BAD case as an 10-11 yr old. His younger brother whos 13 now and one of the 1st to get the vaccine also caught it at the same time and also had a million spots, or so it seemed. I don't hold a lot of value on the vaccine unless you get the 2 shots. hugs helen and (10,systemic) -- In , " sonia1md " <sonia1md@...> wrote: > > Hey Helen, > > I am not sure how dangerous chicken pox is given Nick's meds, but I > do know that vaccine is far from full-proof. Aundrea had the vaccine > at around age 2 and she had chicken pox at age 7....3 months later > she had her first major jra flare. > > I would keep an eye on him. Usually, the outbreak of chicken pox is > much milder if they have had the vaccine. This was the case for Drea. > > (aundrea 12 systemic jra/gerd)-- > > - In , " hburger64 " <hburger64@> wrote: > > > > Nick has been in contact with a child with a confirmed case of the > > chickenpox. Nick had the vaccine as a baby. How concerned do I need > to > > be? > > Nick is on remicade, MTX, folic acid, relafen, prilosec. > > > > Thanks > > hugs Helen and (10,systemic) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 My understanding of it is that getting chicken pox as a teen or adult is quite serious so it is better to make sure the kids get it in case they get exposed to it later. Also, I believe the way it works is if your kids get chicken pox naturally and you are exposed to them it is like a "booster" so you don't get shingles. Same with the grandkids. I've read that the reason shingles is becoming so prevalent is because the kids are getting vaxed and that's why they're doing the shingles vax. Someone please correct me if my understanding of Dr. Tenpenny was wrong. http://mothers-ministry.blogspot.com/ http://www.youravon.com/teastep http://www.youtube.com/user/mothertory From: <courtney.mcgrew@...>Subject: chickenpox questionVaccinations Date: Monday, April 5, 2010, 7:28 PM There is something about chickenpox that confuses me. We don't vaccinate and especially feel like the chickenpox vax is so silly...having had it as a child, it was not a big deal at all and I don't see why anyone would put all those chemicals in a child just to prevent something so benign as that. Anyway, I really want my kids to have actual chickenpox, but I've been thinking about shingles. It is a disease that only affects people who have had chickenpox and it is VERY painful. I have a friend who has it right now. Question 1: does the vaccine contain the live virus? Does that mean that kids are at just as big a risk for shingles later in life if they are getting the live virus anyway??Question 2: Can I expose my kids to shingles (my friend) to give them the real chickenpox virus?Question 3: Is it better for them to never get anything and thus not be at risk for getting shingles later on?It seems strange to me that most viruses give natural immunity, but chickenpox does the opposite...it makes you susceptible later in life. If I am totally off base here, please let me know. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 At 07:28 PM 4/5/2010, you wrote: There is something about chickenpox that confuses me. We don't vaccinate and especially feel like the chickenpox vax is so silly...having had it as a child, it was not a big deal at all and I don't see why anyone would put all those chemicals in a child just to prevent something so benign as that. Anyway, I really want my kids to have actual chickenpox, but I've been thinking about shingles. It is a disease that only affects people who have had chickenpox and it is VERY painful. I have a friend who has it right now. Question 1: does the vaccine contain the live virus? Does that mean that kids are at just as big a risk for shingles later in life if they are getting the live virus anyway?? Yes, that is my opinion Question 2: Can I expose my kids to shingles (my friend) to give them the real chickenpox virus? I wouldn't do it intentionally but it will happen out there in the world Question 3: Is it better for them to never get anything and thus not be at risk for getting shingles later on? It seems strange to me that most viruses give natural immunity, but chickenpox does the opposite...it makes you susceptible later in life. If I am totally off base here, please let me know. Thanks! Yes, it is confusing and I'm not certain I buy into any of it. good questions The supposed reason so much more shingles now is that to keep your immunity you need to be exposed to chickenpox frequently as people used to be. I'm not sure about this whole virus thing. But anyone who has shingles needs to look at what is going on in their lives. It is a condition suffered when there is immune suppresson of some sort. It is a wake up call to pay attention. Acupuncture is very successful in curing shingles, as is homeopathy. But stress and other immune system problems are why it rears its head in my opinion Sheri Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email courses - next classes start March 24, March 31, & April 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 The only way to be sure to avoid shingles is to not get vaccinated and to not get chickenpox. There is a good chance of getting chickenpox at some point in life, so it should be during childhood, when it is more mild. The way to realistically avoid shingles is to get regular exposure to chickenpox throughout your life. So the first chickenpox party is just the beginning. Get exposed whenever you get the chance. The vaccine leads to more cases of shingles. Once the virus is in the body (from the disease or vaccine), it is possible to get shingles. But shingles is more common in people with weak immunity to chickenpox. Since the vaccine gives weaker immunity than the disease, people who have gotten the chickenpox vaccine are more likely to get shingles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 I forgot to answer two of your questions. Yes, the chickenpox vaccine contains a live virus. Yes, you can catch chickenpox by coming into contact with the fluid from shingles blisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 My understanding about shingles is that it is a result of not being continually exposed to the chickenpox virus, thereby maintaining immunity. As children are now vaccinated and never get sick with chickenpox, they do not re-expose our older population who DID have chickenpox as children. The adult's immune system then loses the ability to identify the variolla virus as something it has seen before. Since this virus can lay dormant for many years, the body able to keep it that way because it is contiually reminded on how to make immunity be outside re-exposure, when you are not re-exposed, the body forgets to make immunity and the virus becomes active again as shingles. I think I have the basic idea correct here, if not the actual semantics. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. > > There is something about chickenpox that confuses me. We don't vaccinate and especially feel like the chickenpox vax is so silly...having had it as a child, it was not a big deal at all and I don't see why anyone would put all those chemicals in a child just to prevent something so benign as that. Anyway, I really want my kids to have actual chickenpox, but I've been thinking about shingles. It is a disease that only affects people who have had chickenpox and it is VERY painful. I have a friend who has it right now. > > Question 1: does the vaccine contain the live virus? Does that mean that kids are at just as big a risk for shingles later in life if they are getting the live virus anyway?? > > Question 2: Can I expose my kids to shingles (my friend) to give them the real chickenpox virus? > > Question 3: Is it better for them to never get anything and thus not be at risk for getting shingles later on? > > It seems strange to me that most viruses give natural immunity, but chickenpox does the opposite...it makes you susceptible later in life. If I am totally off base here, please let me know. Thanks! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yes, exactly. In addition, giving the chickenpox vaccine to children doesn't just increase shingles in adults. It also increases shingles in children. The vaccine is a live virus, but it gives weaker immunity than the disease. So the vaccinated children now have the virus in their bodies, but weaker immunity, making them more susceptible to shingles. > > My understanding about shingles is that it is a result of not being continually exposed to the chickenpox virus, thereby maintaining immunity. As children are now vaccinated and never get sick with chickenpox, they do not re-expose our older population who DID have chickenpox as children. The adult's immune system then loses the ability to identify the variolla virus as something it has seen before. Since this virus can lay dormant for many years, the body able to keep it that way because it is contiually reminded on how to make immunity be outside re-exposure, when you are not re-exposed, the body forgets to make immunity and the virus becomes active again as shingles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 I thought that children should get chickenpox when they are young so they DON'T get it later in life as adults.......(called Shingles in adulthood) Now I'm confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Shingles is the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, in people who have already had chickenpox (or the vaccine). It is the same virus, but it is not chickenpox. It can happen in children and adults, but used to mostly happen to old people who didn't typically get the natural immunity boosters from being around kids with chickenpox. Now kids are getting shingles because they get weak immunity from the vaccine, and then don't get natural exposure immunity boosters from the community because the vaccination rate is so high. And even young adults who have had chickenpox are getting shingles, because they're not getting the immunity boosters from exposure in the community, either. Ideally, one would never get chickenpox or the vaccine, and then be safe from shingles. But that's not realistic to count on that, so getting chickenpox during childhood prevents you from getting it as an adult, when it can be serious. Then you should seek out chickenpox exposure from time to time to keep the immunity up as a protection against shingles. Of course I'm sure being generally healthy and strong is a good idea to avoid shingles, so I'll do that as well as seek out chickenpox exposure once in awhile. It's pretty annoying to have to out of one's way to do that. Maybe I'll send Merck a bill for my time and gas money. > > I thought that children should get chickenpox when they are young so they DON'T get it later in life as adults.......(called Shingles in adulthood) > Now I'm confused > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2010 Report Share Posted April 8, 2010 It would still be called chicken pox as adults. Shingles is the reactivation of it, not its own disease. Winnie re: chickenpox QuestionVaccinations > I thought that children should get chickenpox when they are > young so they DON'T get it later in life as adults.......(called > Shingles in adulthood) > Now I'm confused> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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