Chook Me!

What are the odds that my 3 week old could get chicken pox if he was exposed?

Yesterday a friend of mine came over to see my new baby and she brought her 2 year old daughter with her. Well, she called me today to let me know that her little girl broke out with these red dots everywhere and she thinks they might be chicken pox. She immediately made an appointment with her doctor but we wont find out until 2 days from now if she has them for sure... if it is chicken pox, how likely is it for my 3 week old to catch it?

Public Comments

1. Pretty high, but there is abolutely no need to worry. The sooner your kid get them the better. I got them when I was 5 weeks, and it was extremely mild. My mom freaked and took me to the doc, and the doc laughed and told her there was nothin to worry about, and she came in for no reason.
2. if you nurse your baby and had chicken pox yourself as a kid or were immunized, then probably not as your first milk carried the anitbodies that your body has to your baby. The pox are pretty easy ti identify. they are red spots with little blisters that itch like crazy. Kids usually feel kind of under the weather, and run a mild fever. Call your pediatrician and ask him what you should do.
3. It would be good if he had them. The younger the better. He won't suffer as much at his/her young age. And, they are finding out that kids who do contract the childhood diseases that so many try to keep them from getting, actually develop strong immune systems and may ward off killers later in life like cancer. Good luck!